Legendary singer and composer Bhupen Hazarika died of multiple organ failure this evening at 4.30pm. The 86-year-old music maestro was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on June 29 but his health deteriorated after contracting pneumonia last month.
Born in Sadiya, Assam, Hazarika was a child prodigy, having recorded his first song at a tender age of 12. He made his debut in playback singing with the song 'Biswa Bijoy No Jowan' of the second Assamese film, "Indramalati".
Hazarika was a multifaceted genius - he was singer, journalist, poet, writer, composer, lyricist, music director, scholar and filmmaker. He did B.A. and M.A. from Banaras Hindu University and went on to doPh.D. from Columbia University in New York. He completed Ph.D in 1952 with "Proposals for Preparing India's Basic Education to Use Audio-Visual Techniques in Adult Education" as the research topic. He was a recipient of many awards like Padma Bhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Asom Ratna and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award among others.
India has lost a great soul. May his soul rest in peace!
