/ 0
The sham of the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Sthal
The birth anniversary of Assam Ratna, the late lyrical bard, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, an apostle of universal brotherhood and cosmopolitan camaraderie would henceforth be observed as the “State Integration Day” by the State Government of Assam. The Chief Minister of Assam made the above announcement on the 8th of September,2012 at the 86th birthday celebration of the maestro. The state government also intimated a number of initiatives to commemorate Bhupen da’s contribution to art and culture, even as almost cent percent of the towering promises that were made after his doleful demise in November 2011 still stands unfulfilled. The indifference being meted out to the euphonious great has amassed massive criticism from a major cross section of the media fraternity.
As per Gogoi Rs 1.5 Crores has already been sanctioned for the development of the cremation site and for building a memorial. The government argues that it does take a considerable amount of time to build a memorial august enough to match the stature of the musical genius. The statement in entirety sounds eccentric for, the lack of intent is pretty palpable. Although it is well over a year since his decease, as yet only a tender has been floated inviting architects to submit detailed designs of the memorial to be built at the site.
| The government argues that it does take a considerable amount of time to build a memorial august enough to match the stature of the musical genius. |
The Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Committee (BHMC) of the Gauhati University had merely accomplished the work of wire-fencing, sapling plantation, earth filling, and lighting up of the Samadhi Sthal, only on the eve of the cultural icon’s death and birth anniversaries in 2012. Till today, the plot of land still stands barren with little or no work undertaken except for the fencing done, the shelter erected and the path paved to where the legendary singer’s pyre was ignited. The little proportions of pains embarked upon, raise some serious speculations as to if those at the helm of affairs clad in the camouflage of courtesy and concern during the auspicious occasions. The modus operandi in itself bears testimony to the utter impudence and injustice being flaunted.
For constructing the road leading to the second bridge over the Brahmaputra River, a diagonal chunk of the land has now been taken over by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) despite Gogoi’s assurance that no highway would be built at the cost of that invaluable terrain.
The BHMC claims to have engaged in a dialogue with the NHAI and the PWD way back in April, 2012 but were in vain. Today, the historic site remains reduced to a skimpy triangle shaped plot havingapproximate dimensionsof 60m×75m×65m which is exclusive of a side street measuring about 65m×7m. The minimum distance of the shelter from the street-under-construction has shrunk to a slender ten metre, making it susceptible to a plethora of pollution. The higher altitude of the street poses a peril of inundating the low-lying land of the Samadhi during the rainy season and the absence of a concrete demarcation and portal thereby allowing unobstructed access to the shrine from the NH 37 makes the situation even worse.
The BHMC now suggests that the memorial may be constructed by demolishing eight quarters of the university, situated in the immediate vicinity. Reports maintain that the state government has already handed over a sum of Rs 4 Crores to the Gauhati University for the site and for re-constructing the quarters. But the latter is neither in a position to quantify the exact amount of land for the memorial nor in a state to stipulate a time frame for completing the works.
Both the camps seem to be busy making a candy floss of promises and then they find themselves entangled in knots of contradictory comments. The mark of interrogation now looms large over the issue, whether the Gauhati University was aware of the fact that a slice of that land would later be engulfed by the NHAI. If so, what thought process must have been involved in opting to offer the same to the last rites of the melody-monarch? Rather, what was the motive behind taking the spineless step? Irrespective of whatever the reason might have been, the act of parading must now stop and the pursuit of transforming words to works must be propelled by a sense of urgency.
It is by the virtue of his legacy and heritage that we held our head high with a feeling of pride and do assert to hail from the land of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. He, beyond doubts, is one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of India artistry. The magnitude of the masses that paid lachrymose tribute to their dear Bhupen da after he had left for his heavenly abode, and escorted him in his final journey, certainly has to be one of the biggest, in the history of the North East India and aptly depicts the sort of reverence that people have for him.
| The act of parading must now stop and the pursuit of transforming words to works must be propelled by a sense of urgency. |
It’s time the government realized the gravity of the situation and stopped toying with the people’s sentiments. Sincere solicitude should now usher in serious and swift steps towards building a one-of-a-kind memorial ‘august enough to match the stature of the great musical icon’.
The Eastern Panorama stands dedicated to ensure that no disrespect is dosed to the legend of Late Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. A vigilant eye will be kept on the issue from close quarters as we commit ourselves to asking questions until the threshold of tenability.
