Tribute to dear Bhupenda from younger brother Prabin Hazarika
- by Rini Kakati
As a younger brother of Bhupenda, I have been listening and watching from UK the whole event from various media sources on his sudden departure from this world. I have been planning to visit him ever since I heard that he was not keeping well. Unfortunately, due to ill health I could not visit him. But I have been keeping in touch with him over the phone regularly. During this time we had interesting conversations on various aspects of life and listened to his comments on the ever changing cultural scene in India. We spoke about my book of Assamese and Bengali poems which I had dedicated to him. He congratulated me on these two books. The last time I spoke to him was on his 85th Birthday on 8th September when I wished him a Happy Birthday. He responded with a faint reply saying, "thank you". Out of all the happy memories I have of him, this last one will be the most cherished one for me which I will always remember. To a grief-stricken mind only fond memories remain. We count our blessings that as his brothers and sisters we had the opportunity to play with him in our childhood, were inspired by his exuberance of creativity in his youth, touched by his love, affection and guidance in our formative years as did our late father Nilakanta and Ma Shantipriya. In 1978 he visited us in Cambridge and stayed with us for a few days. He visited us again in Leicester when he came in 1999 and 2000. During this time he met some of our friends and we all have fond memories of our time with him.
I have been away from the country since 1955 when I left to work in Uganda, East Africa. And during his early creative years I feel sad that I was not with him. But I was able to visit Assam frequently and catch up with his creative work. It is autumn now - leaves have changed colours. Winter is approaching and the leaves will fall off the trees. During the wintry nights in Assam, the dews will weep for him. In our autumnal years of our life, our thoughts will remain awake with the fond memories of Bhupenda which will inspire us to strive and smile with hope. Today on this auspicious day of Bhupenda's 'shradha' on behalf of my family, my wife Trisha Harbans Kaur, son Luit, daughter-in-law Veanna, daughter Vipasha, son-in-law Nicholas and their two children Kai and Nyah and my brothers and sisters and their families, I would like to offer our sincere gratitude to the people of all Assam for showering so much love and affection to Bhupenda. I would also like to thank the Government of Assam, the Chief Minister Shrijut Tarun Gogoi, all dignitaries who attended the funeral and sent messages from different parts of the country, the police force and the organisers of the whole event. Bhupenda will be remembered for his songs on humanity, love and peace. Let us celebrate his life and work together to preserve his creations and fulfil his dreams to bring the whole country together. May his soul rest in eternal peace!
Prabin Hazarika
Leicester, United Kingdom
12 November 2011
