Google celebrates legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika’s 96th birth anniversary

Tech-giant Google on Thursday is celebrating the 96th birthday anniversary of legendary singer Dr Bhupen Hazarika with a special Doodle.

Hazarika was an acclaimed Assamese-Indian singer, composer, and filmmaker. He also created music for hundreds of films. Today’s Google doodle features Dr Bhupen Hazarika playing the harmonium. The doodle has been created by Mumbai-based guest artist Rutuja Mali. The artwork celebrates Hazarika’s work to popularize Assamese cinema and folk music.

Hazarika was born on September 8, 1926 to Nilakanta and Shantipriya Hazarika in Sadiya. His father was originally from Nazira town in Sivasagar district.

“His home state, Assam, is a region that has always been home to different tribes and several indigenous groups – such as the Bodo, Karbi, Mising, and Sonowal-Kacharis,” Google said. During his childhood, Hazarika grew up surrounded by songs and folk tales about life along the mighty Brahmaputra river.

Renowned Assamese lyricist, Jyotiprasad Agarwala, and filmmaker, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, were impressed by Hazarika’s musical talents. They also helped him record his first song. The song was launched when he was 10 years old. When he was 12, Hazarika was writing and recording songs for two films: Indramalati: Kaxote Kolosi Loi, and Biswo Bijoyi Naujawan.

Over time, Hazarika created numerous compositions. He loved telling people’s stories about happiness and grief, unity and courage, romance and loneliness, and even strife and determination through his songs.

Hazarika was also an intellectual. He graduated with a master’s in political science from Banaras Hindu University in 1946. He then went on to earn a Ph.D. in mass communications from Columbia University in 1952. Hazarika returned to India after completing his studies.

He continued working on songs and films that popularized Assamese culture on both a national and global scale. He also served as chairman and director of numerous boards and associations, including the Indian government’s National Film Development Corporation.

For his outstanding contribution to music and culture in his over six-decade career, Hazarika won several prestigious awards like the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan. In 2019, he was honored posthumously with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.