The centenary of legendary Assamese singer and composer Dr Bhupen Hazarika was celebrated at The Nehru Centre in London on October 9 with a musical programme titled Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, bringing together artists, cultural leaders and members of the British and Asian diaspora.
Organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, the event featured performances by violinist Sunita Bhuyan, singer Mayukh Hazarika and the Luitporia Dance Ensemble. The programme was attended by dignitaries, cultural figures and members of the House of Lords and other institutions.
A video message from Hazarika’s son, Tej Hazarika, from New York was also screened, connecting with the audience and paying tribute to the legacy of the celebrated musician.
The programme was curated by Sunita Bhuyan, chief curator of arts and culture at the Suraj Foundation, as part of an initiative to take Hazarika’s music and philosophy to audiences across the world.
The evening began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Naorem J Singh, director of The Nehru Centre, alongside the curators, artists and community leaders, including members of the Assam Charity Trust.
The Suraj Foundation presented The Nehru Centre and the Assam Charity Trust with a new book on Hazarika by author Anuradha Sharma Pujari, published by the Assam Publication Board. The book was released in Assam on September 8, 2025, marking the beginning of the centenary year.
The cultural programme opened with an invocation by the Luitporia Dance Ensemble, led by Chinu Kishor, featuring a Sanskrit composition by Hazarika composed by cultural leader Uma Subramanium.
London-based Assamese media personality Hiramoni Sharma hosted the event, sharing anecdotes and significant episodes from Hazarika’s life.
Mayukh Hazarika, the nephew of the legendary musician, was among the evening’s highlights. He performed Bistirno Parore in three languages, along with Ami Ek Jajabor in Bengali and Akashi Ganga Bisora Nai, showcasing his deep baritone and interpretation of Hazarika’s compositions.
Sunita Bhuyan’s violin recital began with Hazarika’s favourite bhajan, Vaishnava Janato, followed by Dil Hoom Hoom Kare. She concluded with a classical duet of Jhooti Mooti Mitwa and Snehe Amar, accompanied by London-based pianist Ronojit Bhuyan.
The accompanying musicians included Sandeep Chakrabarty on tabla and percussion, Pretom Saha on keyboards and Siddharth Singh on guitar.
The programme concluded with Bhuyan and Mayukh Hazarika performing We Are on the Same Boat, Brother. The performance prompted audience participation and ended with a standing ovation.
Young London-based professionals Akhil Chakrabarty and Sameer Baruwa also shared their thoughts on celebrating Hazarika’s legacy in the city. Several cultural leaders called for an arts centre, similar to the Tagore Centre, to be established to promote the work of cultural icons in the UK.
The London event forms part of the global centenary celebrations launched by the Suraj Foundation on September 7, 2025, at the Tata Theatre, National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), in Mumbai. That programme, also titled Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, featured Usha Mangeshkar, Anup Jalota, Suresh Wadkar and Zubeen Garg.
“Bhupen da lived his whole life between rivers, the Brahmaputra of his childhood and the Mississippi he met as a young man in America,” Sunita Bhuyan said. “He believed a song could cross any border. Bringing his music to London and then New York in his hundredth year is our way of keeping that promise alive.”
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