Glowing tributes were paid to Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika on his 93rd birth anniversary by the state government and various organisations in Assam on Sunday. People thronged to pay homage at his memorial at Jalukbari and his statue at Dighalipukhuri here.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state culture minister Naba Kumar Doley and Union minister of state for food processing Rameswar Teli, among other dignitaries, attended a memorial programme organised by the cultural affairs directorate, government of Assam at Bhupen Hazarika’s Samadhi Kshetra at Jalukbari here.

‘‘Sudhakantha Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika sang for humanity and each of his songs sent a message to society to strengthen the bond of unity and harmony. We must follow his ideals and try to make contributions towards development of the state and the country,” Sonowal said at the programme.

Sonowal also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for honouring the wish of the state’s people by posthumously conferring the Bharat Ratna on Bhupen Hazarika.

Teli said people must remember each song of Hazarika as they speak of humanity and universal brotherhood.

Doley said the state government was taking a lot of steps to preserve the songs and artistic creations of Hazarika.

People also paid homage at a programme organised by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) at Hazarika’s statue in Dighalipukhuri. AASU president Dipanka Nath, secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi and chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya paid floral tributes.

A cultural programme was organised in the evening after lighting 93 earthen lamps. Altogether 34 singers from select colleges and universities from different districts performed at the event.

Union home minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day tour to the city, eulogised Hazarika and said, “Bhupenda established the culture of Assam and the Northeast on the global stage. He was not just an artiste of one language. He remained committed to the culture of the region”.

The department of mass communication, journalism and media studies, of Cotton University organised a programme at Sudmersen Hall, attended by Bhupenda’s close associate Ratna Ojha who reminisced about the bard’s youth, romance and songs.

Students presented dances on Hazarika’s songs while the department’s founder, Satyendra Kumar Choudhury, played songs on the violin.

Socio-cultural organisation Byatikram Masdo also celebrated Bhupenda’s birth anniversary like past years with a colourful cultural programme.

The Bhupen Hazarika Byatikram Solidarity Award 2019 was conferred on singer Sangita Kakati.

A large number of people also paid tribute to Bhupenda at his birthplace Sadiya in Tinsukia district in colourful events.