Prayer meet for music maestro's recovery

GUWAHATI: The fans and well-wishers of music maestro Bhupen Hazarika, who has been in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai since June 28, organized an all-religion prayer meet in the city on Sunday. A host of artists including actors, musicians and other noteworthy figures joined the meet to pray for the well-being and quick recovery of Bhupenda.
"We've been very concerned about Bhupenda's health since he was admitted to the hospital.He's God's gift to the world of music. We pray to God that he regains his health soon and comes back among us to enrich our culture with his musical contribution," said Nipon Goswami, a veteran Assamese actor, who attended the prayer meet on the banks of Dighalipukhuri.
The actor, who has been in the film industry for the last several decades, added, "I feel, like Mamoni Raisom Goswami, if Bhupenda too could be brought here and treated in surroundings familiar to him, he would be much happier."
Several others joined the prayer meet as well. "We are all concerned about Bhupenda's health and are praying for his well-being. It's overwhelming to see people coming together here to pray for Bhupenda," said Samar Hazarika, the musician's brother, who is also a popular singer.
Sources at the Mumbai hospital where Bhupenda is admitted said he is stable now and his health is improving gradually. The doctors attending to him are satisfied with his improvement, the sources added.
"Bhupenda's health has improved considerably since he was admitted to the ICU of our hospital after he complained of breathlessness and drowsiness. His vital organs are also functioning normally," the source cited the doctor as saying. However, he is being fed through his nose and a decision on shifting him to a room in the hospital is likely to be taken in two-three days.
The musical genius recently lent his voice to the film 'Gandhi To Hitler', where he sang Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan, 'Vaishnav Jan'.
Meanwhile, Jnanpith Award-winning litterateur Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who is undergoing treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital since she was brought here from Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon on Thursday, continues to be in the same condition. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi visited the author and wished her a speedy recovery.