Assam CM mourns demise of Hazarika

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today expressed deep shock at the demise of Dada Saheb Phalke award winner Bhupen Hazarika.

"It is a very sad day for every music loving person in the world and more so for every Assamese. Our beloved Bhupenda is no more," Gogoi said in a statement. Hazarika died in a hospital in Mumbai today after a multi-organ failure. He was 86. Gogoi, who is in New Delhi currently, said Hazarika`s passing away was a big loss for the country and particularly Assam. "He was a shining star in the cultural arena and his songs will live forever in the heart and mind of every Assamese. His songs had a sway on all sections of society and he will always live within us," he said. The chief minister has directed Minister for Culture Affairs Pranati Phukan and his senior officials to rush to Mumbai for bringing back Hazarika`s body to the state. Hazarika`s body is likely to brought to Guwahati on Monday and would be kept at the Judges`s Field here for two days for people to pay their last respects, his nephew Sandipan Hazarika said. Opposition Asom Gana Parishad also expressed grief at the demise of the maestro. Party president Chandra Mohan Patowary and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta told reporters that "his demise has made Assam`s cultural arena barren, but his voice and songs will live forever". PTI