World Spectator: ‘’Bhupen Hazarika, the Master of Ballads that Touched Millions of Hearts’’

Guwahati: Music lovers have been denied hauntingly powerful voice magic Bhupen Hazarika in songs like "Dil hoom hoom square" and "Ganga behti Kyun ho," if he went ahead and become a lawyer, as he originally planned.

But fate willed otherwise.

Hazarika, who died of multiple organ failure in Mumbai hospital Saturday at age 86, was a master of ballads and touched millions with his passion for the songs.

He was one of the oldest Indian singers perform to entertain music lovers around for more than seven decades - his songs are at times like letters from home, was revolutionary promises, sometimes angry, but always had something soothing touch in his baritone.

From Tokyo to Mumbai and Alaska to Assam, those who heard Hazarika could never forget his powerful renditions.

"When I go to Japan, students of music you want me to sing" Manuhe Manuhar Babe »(to humans). When I reach California people say that you are our Paul (Robson), please sing "We are in the same boat as brothers," "legendary musician told IANS in an interview in 2006, just before the stage of the work in Guwahati.It was mid-way at this stage, performance, Hazarika suffered a mild stroke, and then had to undergo bypass surgery.

But the heart could not keep his spirit - Bhupen Yes, because it is affectionately called by all as one, continued to sing until about two years ago, when his failing health prevented him from making new numbers.

"I always think I am young", Hazarika once told this writer during the celebration of his eighty-fourth birthday last year.

"I do not feel like retiring as music has no retirement age. All my life I was trying to interpret Assam and India to the outside world through my songs", Hazarika said.

He started singing when he was only 10 years old, churned out hits after hits with more than 1,500 songs, until his health failed about two years ago. At age 13 he was singing about building a new India, Assam and the new - the songs were his own, very powerful and modern.Singer, poet, actor, director, Hazarika was born in 1926 in a remote corner of Assam - Sadiya in the eastern Tinsukia. He grew up in the northern town of Tezpur and then went to Benares Hindu University and completed his graduation and post graduation in political science.He studied in order to pursue a career as a lawyer in Assam, but fate made him a mass-based singer.

In 1948, Hazarika went to the U.S. on a scholarship to study Mass Communications at Columbia University, New York.It was there that he was soaked in American folk music in the future, what influenced him to bring to the folk elements in his songs - even though he mostly sang folk music of Assam.

Always decorated with the trademark Nepali cap, Dadasaheb Phalke Award passion for music was the winner of the ruthless.

Hazarika composed soulful music for films like "Rudaali", "Saaz" and "Gajagamini".

Not only singing, Hazarika dabbled in politics as well - his remarkable popularity brought him to the Assam Legislative Assembly as an independent member in 1967, where he was responsible for the installation of the first state studio of its kind in Guwahati, Jyoti Chitraban.He again tried his hand at politics - this time as the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat in 2004. He was, however, unsuccessful, and lost the election.

Personal life Hazarika as checkered as his professional life.For nearly 40 years, Hazarika was living in a relationship with director Kalpana Lajmi.Kalpana Lajmi was just 17 when she fell in love Hazarika who was 45 at the time.When music maestro turned 80, he offered to marry her, but declined the offer saying Lajmi 'wife' tag is not necessary to their relationship.

"Bhupso (Kalpana affectionately addressed as Hazarika Bhupso) made an offer to marry me when he was 80, but I said no", Lajmi, told this writer in an interview.

"Maybe he wanted to give me the status of the wife, but I was not interested. For me, relationships, trust and respect that we share with each other, more important than marriage."

Lajmi, best known for its woman-oriented films like "Rudaali», «Daman», «Ek Pal», «Chingaari» and «Darmiyaan ', says she met Hazarika through her uncle."We lived together in the past more than 40 years, although my mother never accepted the relationship, and non-members Bhupso family, except for Manisha (Bhupen's younger brother's wife Jayanta it)."According to the most Lajmi, in Bhupen Hazarika has always been a favorite of many beautiful women."Bhupso were many beautiful women in his life", Lajmi said.

Ex-wife priyam Hazarika is settled in Canada, and their son Tej is settled in the United States.

Hazarika has been prepared, directed, wrote and sang for the Assamese language films like "Era Batar Sur" (1956), "Shakuntala" (1960), "Pratidhwani" (1964) and «Lotighoti" (1967).So was Lajmi able to make a difference in the lives and careers of Hazarika?

"I think I'm responsible for 95 percent of the career of flight Bhupso. It was intoxicating (alcoholic) and I helped him get rid of this habit."She devoted all her energy and time to leave him since he was bedridden for about three years ago.

Hazarika, may have died - but his soulful music combined with his powerful lyrics will continue to entertain and capture the imagination of several generations.