Guwahati: The Assam government has unveiled plans for a year-long celebration starting September 8, 2025, to honour the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the initiative at a press conference on Saturday following a cabinet meeting.
“To commemorate the life and legacy of Bhupen Hazarika, we have approved year-long events from September 8, 2025, to September 8, 2026,” Sarma said, revealing that a 50-member committee, chaired by him, will oversee the celebrations.
The chief ministers of other northeastern states will be invited to join the committee, he added.
The grand opening and closing ceremonies are planned for Guwahati or New Delhi, with invitations to the prime minister and the president.
The celebrations will extend to key locations linked to Hazarika’s life, including Arunachal Pradesh, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
A biography of the iconic musician, commissioned by the government, will be distributed to 10 lakh people in Assam, marking the highest print run for any book in the state.
It will also be translated into multiple Indian languages and shared with libraries nationwide.
Additionally, a documentary on Hazarika’s life and the naming of a major infrastructure project or institution in his honour are in the works.
The state government will also request the Centre to issue a commemorative coin in his memory.
Among other cabinet decisions, Sarma announced the operationalisation of 10 new co-districts by August 15 to enhance governance and service delivery.
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The cabinet also approved Rs. 250 crore for the Assam Cancer Care Foundation to expedite the construction of seven cancer care centres.
These are part of a 16-center network, with nine already completed.
Furthermore, four milk processing units in Bokakhat, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Bajali will be handed over to North East Dairy and Foods Ltd, a joint venture between the state and central governments.
