So music maestro Bhupen Hazarika has bequeathed all his property to Kalpana Lajmi. I read the report with great interest.
I don’t know much about Hazarika’s family life; his career was at its peak in the pre-internet, pre-tabloid days. But I know he and Lajmi have both been living together for more than three decades now, despite a whopping age gap of 28 years. His ex-wife, Priyamvada (a Gujarati woman of Ugandan origin he met while in Columbia University) is settled in Canada and son Tej, a writer, is an American citizen. I don’t know how they took the news, but going by the interviews of Hazarika and Lajmi, they all seem to be on good terms.
Lajmi was 17 when she fell in love with him and ever since she has stuck with him through thick and thin, despite his mercurial temper and drinking problem, and is credited with revamping his career and nursing him in his old age. She seems to be incredibly in love with “Bhupso”, as she fondly calls him, despite folks on both sides not having accepted their relationship.
Here in Dubai I don’t get to read much about him. Last time when I had visited Assam, I was told that he had collapsed on stage during a function. Well, he is 84. What can you expect?
Bollywood buffs know him for the music of Aarop, Rudali, Ek Pal, Saaz and Gajagamini. But, like me, if you grew up in Assam (or Bengal) in the early 80s you’d know what a prodigious talent he is. In his velvety, crisp, baritone voice he has sung about love, personal tragedies, integration and social justice. At times his songs are like parables -- the famous O Ganga behti ho kyon? was addressed to Indira Gandhi. His style varies effortlessly from folksy to tribal to modern.
And that’s just his music. He is a poet, actor, journalist, author and film-maker of the first order. Take just one segment of his career and you can compare it with the best in the field.
He is a PhD in Mass Communication from Columbia University and a recipient of the Lisle Fellowship from Chicago University. It was during his stay in the US, he met Paul Robson, whose influence proved to be everlasting.
Just listen to some of his Assamese or Bengali songs on YouTube and you will be hooked. The saying that music transcends language was invented for Bhupen Hazarika.
I fervently wish he is awarded Bharat Ratna, and while he is still alive.
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excellent post..i dint know these details..and i second u..he should be awarded Bharat Ratna..hey, btw, nice to c ya back...
ReplyDeleteLoved the Rudali song. Quite haunting.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post. I agree with Ramesh. I agree with you about Bharat Ratna
ReplyDeletei agree for the bharat ratna. great write up neena di
ReplyDeleteWell i dont know much about the guy, But i have heard him in That India song that came I think Mille sure hamara tumhara I think...
ReplyDeletewell reading the post i am sure he shud be given the award when some IDIOTS have been given ...
Bikram's
An excellent and informative article about Bhupen.Ganga behti kyon is a classic song.Yes,he should be awarded the Bharat Ratna as he sure is ONE.
ReplyDeletePadmabhushan Dr Bhupen Hazarika and his former wife Priyamvada separated after thirteen years married life. They parted on good terms. Bhupen regretted later for neglecting his son Tej Bhupen Hazarika for not geting the opportunity to spend enough time with him as a child. However, later they come to know each other better as a father and son. Tej has adopted Buddhism and Bhupen was meeting his son and American daughter in-law as often as possible. He said in an interview “Kalpana, my secretary is my adopted son: since I never really nurtured my own son, Kalpana Lajmi, my secretary, has come to be my son”.
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