“Bard of Brahmaputra” – Bhupen Hazarika is being remembered on Friday across India, especially Assam and the Northeast, on his 10th death anniversary. 

Former Assam chief minister and union minister Sarbananda Sonowal while remembering the legendary singer said: “A legend, whose songs of love, peace, harmony and patriotism defined the cultural landscape of Assam and took it to the world. My tributes to the Bard of Brahmaputra, Bharat Ratna, Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his death anniversary.” 

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Bhupen Hazarika was born on September 8, 1926 at Sadiya in Assam.  

Hazarika, a Bharat Ratna recipient, passed away on November 5, 2011 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai due to old age ailments at the age of 85. 

Bhupen Hazarika held an MA degree in political science from the Banaras Hindu University, which he earned in 1946.  

He acquired his doctoral degree from the Columbia University at New York in the United States in 1952. 

Later, after returning back to India, he pursued his career in music. 

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He is also acknowledged to have introduced the culture and folk music of Assam and Northeast India to Hindi cinema at the national level. 

As a singer, Hazarika was known for his baritone voice; as a lyricist, he was known for poetic compositions and parables which touched on themes ranging from romance to social and political commentary; and as a composer, for his use of folk music.