Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, recalling the legendary cultural icon’s remarkable contributions to the world of music.
PM Modi played two songs of Bhupen Hazarika and said, “These sounds bear witness to how Bhupen Hazarika’s songs connect different countries around the world. In fact, a very commendable effort has been made in Sri Lanka. In this, Sri Lankan artistes have translated Bhupen Da ji’s iconic song ‘Manuhe-Manuhar Baba’ into Sinhala and Tamil. I played you the audio of these very songs.”
Notably, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, celebrated the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika with a special programme in Sri Lanka’s Colombo on September 9.
On this occasion, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, formally launched the Sinhala and Tamil renditions of Dr. Hazarika’s iconic song “Manuhe Manuhor Babe“, which is widely hailed as the anthem of humanity.
The song’s Tamil translation was done by Sahitya Akademi Premchand Award winner and eminent Tamil author Aiyathurai Santhan, while the Sinhala version was translated by noted Hindi scholar Prof. Upul Ranjith Hewavitanagamage.
The Tamil rendition was sung by Dr. Arunanthy Aaruran, Senior Lecturer in Carnatic Music at the University of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Sinhala version was sung by Thanura Madhugeeth Dissanayaka, a Pratibha Sangam Award winner of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.
The entire project was conceptualised and directed by Prof. Ankuran Dutta, Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre.
Prof. Ankuran Dutta is presently on lien from Gauhati University and rendering his service as the Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, High Commission of India, Colombo, in the diplomatic rank of First Secretary of Indian Foreign Service (PLCA) Rules under the Indian Council For Cultural Relations of the Ministry of External Affairs.
ALSO READ: Zubeen Garg’s music will live on, says PM Modi in ‘Mann ki Baat’
Dr. Dutta served the Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University, as a Professor and the Head (2019-2022) and an Associate Professor and the Head (2016-2019).
PM Modi attended the birth centenary celebrations of the legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika during his 2-day visit to Assam on September 13.
During his visit, the prime minister also released a Rs 100 commemorative coin issued by the Reserve Bank of India to honour Hazarika, and also a biography of the maestro, titled ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika’, written by Sahitya Akademi awardee Anuradha Sarma Pujari.
