Bhupen Hazarika to be cremated at Gauhati University campus

Guwahati: The last rites of music legend Bhupen Hazarika will be performed at Gauhati University campus on Wednesday, after some quarters raised objections to the earlier proposed site saying it was not large enough for a memorial and did not have high standards of cleanliness. The Bharalumukh Sankardev Uddyan on the banks of the Brahmaputra was first proposed as the cremation site. [caption id=“attachment_126419” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Tina Ambani paying floral tributes to legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on Sunday. Raju Shellar/Firstpost”]  [/caption] At a condolence meeting of the state Congress on Tuesday evening, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had announced his government’s decision for the cremation at Jalukbari. Situated on the national highway adjacent to Jalukbari Square, the plot measuring about 15300 sq ft could also be utilised for setting up a cultural centre in memory of the multifaceted genius, official sources said. The site was prepared for the cremation by the PWD under the supervision of the Gauhati University authorities amid tight security. GU Vice-Chancellor Okhil Kumar Medhi had offered the plot for the icon’s final rites and Hazarika’s sister and eminent singer Sudakhina Sarma had also expressed her preference for the Jalukbari site over the earlier proposed Sankardev Uddyan. The legendary singer-composer’s family members had verbally conveyed to the GU authorities their approval of the government’s decision, Medhi said. The university would give another 7,631 sq ft adjacent to the plot if required for setting up the cultural centre in memory of the creative genius, he said. The GU campus is appropriate for Hazarika’s last rites as he had composed and sung the university’s anthem ‘Jilikabo Luitore par andharor bheta bhangi’ (The university will drive out darkness of ignorance and the banks of the Brahmaputra will dazzle with knowledge) when the educational institute was inaugurated in 1954, Medhi said. PTI