Silchar: The Police Parade Ground in Silchar transformed into a sea of harmony on Wednesday afternoon as 5,000 voices joined together to sing “Manush Manusher Jonno,” paying a heartfelt tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his 14th death anniversary.

Organised by the Cachar District Administration in association with the District Cultural Affairs Department, the event turned into a powerful symbol of unity and humanism — the ideals that shaped Dr. Hazarika’s music and message.

The programme was attended by Assam’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mines and Minerals, and Barak Valley Development, Kaushik Rai, as Chief Guest. He was joined by Lok Sabha MP Parimal Suklabaidya, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha, Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty, Udharbond MLA Mihir Kanti Shome, and District Commissioner Mridul Yadav, IAS, along with several eminent cultural figures and administrative officials.

As the clock struck three, the field came alive with the collective rendition of “Manush Manusher Jonno, Jibon Jiboner Jonno.” Students, tea garden workers, NCC and NSS cadets, ASRLM groups, NGOs, cultural organisations, and government staff sang in unison, filling the air with emotion and pride.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Kaushik Rai described the event as “a moment of pride and reflection for every Assamese.” He credited Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma for inspiring every district to observe Bhupen Hazarika’s death anniversary as a festival of cultural unity. “Bhupen Hazarika’s songs are not just melodies; they are the language of Assam’s soul,” Rai said, praising the Cachar District Administration for turning the Chief Minister’s vision into a people’s movement.

Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha called Dr. Hazarika “the conscience of a generation,” whose songs voiced the struggles and dreams of ordinary people. Lok Sabha MP Parimal Suklabaidya described his compositions as “living embodiments of Assam’s cultural soul” and urged the youth to carry forward his message of peace and brotherhood.

In his welcome address, District Commissioner Mridul Yadav called the gathering a “living expression of unity in diversity.” He spoke about the extensive planning behind the event and announced a digital initiative under which every participant would receive a digitally signed certificate through the district’s online portal.

Adding to the musical splendour, sixteen artistes who represented Cachar in the 1,000-voice Grand Chorus during Dr. Hazarika’s centenary celebrations in Guwahati performed a medley of his classics. The evening culminated in an emotional moment when participants formed a human chain, singing “Manush Manusher Jonno” as a gesture of fraternity and hope.

Minister Rai later presented commemorative coins of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika to Dr. Amalendu Bhattacharjee and Dr. Pradosh Kiran Nath of Assam University on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajive Mohan Pant.

Senior officials present included ADC (Cultural Affairs) Phyllis Hrangchal, ACS, CO-District Commissioner (Dholai) Roktim Baruah, ACS, ADC Hemanga Nobis, ACS, ACs Bonnykha Chetia, Jonali Devi, Anjali Kumari, Masi Topno, and Deepa Das, Branch Officer (Cultural Affairs) and In-Charge Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar.

Simultaneously, the 14th death anniversary of the music legend was observed at the office of the CO-District Commissioner, Lakhipur Sub-Division, attended by CO-District Commissioner Dhrubajyoti Pathak, ACS, Chairperson of the Manipuri Development Council Reena Singh, and Chairman of Lakhipur Municipal Board Mrinal Kanti Das. Students and trained singers performed “Manush Manusher Jonno,” keeping the spirit of unity alive across the region.

Earlier in the day, the melodies of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s immortal songs played across Silchar through the fixed loudspeaker system of the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, setting the tone for a day steeped in music, emotion, and reverence.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally