Music Legend Bhupen Hazarika Dies at 85

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS): A golden voice of Indian music fell silent Saturday when legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika died of multiple organ failure at a Mumbai hospital, plunging millions of fans across the country, especially those in eastern India, into gloom. He was 85.

Known for his haunting, resounding melodies like "Dil hoom hoom kare" and "Ganga behti ho kyon", Hazarika, who was on the ventilator for four months and had been in and out of hospital, passed away at 4.37 p.m. at the Kokilaben Hospital.

His long-time companion, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, his nephews and some well-wishers from his home state of Assam were at his side when he died.

"His spirit was great, but what to do, his body gave way. It is a very difficult time for all of us. The doctors did a wonderful job," she said.

Jayanta Saha, media relations incharge of the Mumbai hospital, told IANS that after Hazarika developed pneumonia Oct 23, he underwent a minor surgery whereby doctors placed a food pipe into his system.

His family and friends were stunned, while gloom descended across Assam.

"I feel as if I lost my soul. It's a loss for the entire country. I don't have words," Sudakshina Sharma, younger sister of Hazarika, said. She is also a singer and stays in Guwahati.

"Not only it is a personal loss, but his demise is surely the end of an era. He would however continue to live forever by way of his compositions," said the maestro's younger brother and singer Samar Hazarika.

Impromptu prayer meetings were being held across Assam as fans and well wishers came out on the streets singing his popular songs and lighting earthen lamps at street corners.

"The voice of India, especially the eastern region, has come to a halt. But his songs would continue to live with us for generations to come," said Arunim Das, a Hazarika fan in Guwahati.

Condolences flowed from top leaders of the country.

In her message, President Pratibha Patil said: "Dr. Hazarika was a creative genius whose deep baritone voice was instantly recognized by poetry and music lovers across the nation."

"His use of folk music with a touch of the contemporary made his compositions unique in their own way. In his passing away, the nation has lost a music maestro and an artiste of exceptional ability," she said.

Expressing his "great sorrow" at Hazarika's death, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "Dr. Hazarika's extraordinary talent encompassed not only music and literature but also cinema acting and direction. His contribution greatly enriched our cultural landscape and his influence on Assamese art and culture was particularly profound."

Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari recalled Hazarika's association with the party as he paid tributes to him.

Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan in his condolence message described Hazarika as a "gift of Assam to the world".

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi termed it a "great loss for the country".

"His music was universal," he said.

The singer's body will be kept at the Mumbai hospital till Sunday before being flown to Guwahati for the last rites, a hospital official said quoting Hazarika's family.

His body will be flown to Guwahati Monday and kept at Judges Field for two days for the public to pay homage, Gogoi said.

The Assam government has taken the responsibility to fly the body from Mumbai to Guwahati and organise the last rites, expected to take place in Guwahati Wednesday or Thursday. It has also also announced three days' state mourning.

A Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, Hazarika's lyrics and voice lent a special flavour to several Bollywood songs and put the spotlight on music from Assam.

Noted for his clear diction and voice, he sang his first song "Biswa nijoy nojowan" for Assamese film "Indramalati" when he was just 12.

Later on, he sang soulful songs in Assamese, Bengali and Hindi.

Mumbai's film industry remembered the singer and many paid condolences through social networking sites.

Said actor Akshay Kumar: "After Jagjit Singh, India has lost another musical wonder, RIP Bhupen Hazarika. The man who gave us 'Dil Hoom Hoom Kare' from Rudaali, truly our hearts recite this song with grief today."