London: The centenary of legendary Assamese singer, composer and filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika was celebrated at The Nehru Centre in London on October 9 with a musical programme titled Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, featuring acclaimed artists Sunita Bhuyan and Mayukh Hazarika, alongside performances by the Luitporia Dance Ensemble.
Organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, the event drew a full house comprising members of the British and Asian diaspora, cultural figures, dignitaries and members of the House of Lords and other prominent institutions.
A video message from Bhupen Hazarika’s son, Tej Hazarika, who joined from New York, touched the audience and added a personal dimension to the centenary tribute.
The programme was curated by violinist Sunita Bhuyan, chief curator for arts and culture at the Suraj Foundation, who has been working to take Hazarika’s music, philosophy and cultural legacy to audiences around 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.
As part of the tribute, the Suraj Foundation presented copies of a book on Hazarika, written by author Anuradha Sharma Pujari and published by the Assam Publication Board, to The Nehru Centre and the Assam Charity Trust. The book was released in Assam on September 8, 2025, at the beginning of the centenary year.
The cultural programme opened with an invocation by the Luitporia Dance Ensemble, led by Chinu Kishor, based on a Sanskrit composition by Hazarika composed by cultural leader Uma Subramanium.
London-based Assamese media personality Hiramoni Sharma anchored the event, sharing anecdotes and significant episodes from Hazarika’s life and career.
One of the evening’s highlights was the performance by Mayukh Hazarika, the nephew of Bhupen Hazarika. He captivated the audience with Bistirno Parore, performed in three languages, along with Ami Ek Jajabor in Bengali and Akashi Ganga Bisora Nai. His deep baritone and interpretation of the legendary musician’s lyrics and melodies drew an enthusiastic response.
Sunita Bhuyan followed with a violin recital that opened with Hazarika’s favourite bhajan, Vaishnava Janato, and included Dil Hoom Hoom Kare. She concluded with a classical duet, Jhooti Mooti Mitwa / Snehe Amar, accompanied by London-based pianist Ronojit Bhuyan.
The performances were supported by a team of musicians, including Sandeep Chakrabarty on tabla and percussion, Pretom Saha on keyboards and Siddharth Singh on guitar.
The evening culminated in a joint performance by Sunita Bhuyan and Mayukh Hazarika of We Are on the Same Boat, Brother. The song prompted audience participation and ended with a standing ovation.
Young professionals from the Assamese diaspora in London, Akhil Chakrabarty and Sameer Baruwa, also shared their thoughts on celebrating Hazarika’s legacy in the British capital. Several cultural leaders called for the establishment of an arts centre in the UK, on the lines of the Tagore Centre, to promote the works of Hazarika and other cultural icons.
The London event forms part of the global centenary celebrations launched by the Suraj Foundation in Mumbai on September 7, 2025. The inaugural programme, also titled Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, was held at the Tata Theatre of the National Centre for the Performing Arts and featured artists including Usha Mangeshkar, Anup Jalota, Suresh Wadkar and Zubeen Garg.
Reflecting on the significance of taking Hazarika’s music to international audiences, Bhuyan said the musician’s life was shaped by rivers, from the Brahmaputra of his childhood to the Mississippi he encountered as a young man in the United States.
“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,” she said.
The centenary programme is set to continue in New York as the international celebrations of Hazarika’s life, music and philosophy move to their next destination.
The Suraj Foundation is a Mumbai-based not-for-profit Section 8 company working in the fields of arts, culture, inclusion and women’s entrepreneurship.