Google honoured Dr Bhupen Hazarika, a famous Indian vocalist, musician, and filmmaker, with a special Doodle on Thursday (September 8, 2022) to celebrate his 96th birthday. On this day in 1926, Hazarika, who composed music for hundreds of films, was born in Assam.
“Happy birthday, Bhupen Hazarika! Your songs and films continue to command respect for Assam’s rich culture,” Google stated.
“Illustrated by Mumbai-based guest artist Rutuja Mali, the artwork celebrates Hazarika’s work to popularise Assamese cinema and folk music,” the statement continued.
As a child, Hazarika was surrounded by songs and folk tales about life along the mighty Brahmaputra river, and his musical talents drew the notice of renowned Assamese lyricist Jyotiprasad Agarwala and filmmaker Bishnu Prasad Rabha, the doyens of Assam’s rich cultural history.
Agarwala and Rabha assisted Hazarika in recording his debut song, which established his music career when he was ten years old.
Hazarika started writing and recording songs for two films by the age of 12: Indramalati: Kaxote Kolosi Loi and Biswo Bijoyi Naujawan.
In 1946, Bhupen Hazarika earned a master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University. In 1952, he received his Ph.D. in mass communications from Columbia University.
Dr. Hazarika returned to India after finishing his studies in America to continue working on songs and films that popularised Assamese culture on a national and worldwide scale.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika received several important awards during his six-decade career, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Shri, and the Padma Bhushan, for his remarkable contribution to music and culture.
In 2019, he was also posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.