Singer's school, college pay him homage on first death anniversary

GUWAHATI: On account of his father's transferrable job, as a child, Bhupen Hazarika studied in different schools throughout his life. However, on his first death anniversary, his old alma maters did not forget to pay tribute to the music maestro.
The historic Sonaram High School and the reputed Cotton College offered 'shraddhanjali' to the Bard of Brahmaputra on the solemn occasion.It was in 1933 when a seven-year-old Bhupen Hazarika was admitted to this school, established in 1894. Several illustrious personalities like Tarun Ram Phukan and Syed Tayabullah also studied here.
"Even though Hazarika studied here only for two years, it is a matter of great honour for the school. On the occasion of his first death anniversary, we offered a floral tribute to him. A quiz competition will be held within three days. The school is old but it is filled with memories of important people which have left a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of the people of Assam," said Kanaklata Devi, principal Sonaram Government High School.
In 1935, Hazarika had to leave for Dhubri where he was admitted to a primary school. In 1936, Bhupen left for Tezpur with his father, the cultural capital of Assam, and this was here that his interest into the teachings of the three icons of the Assamese cultural identity- Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, Bishnu Rabha and Phani Sharma developed.
In the late thirties, Hazarika took admission to Cotton College, where he completed his Intermediate Arts in 1942. Till now the college remembers Hazarika as a precious ex-Cottonian. "After offering a floral tribute, we made a human chain at the Latasil playground. We also took part in the pledge there, and after that we had a discussion on his works. In the evening, the students lit earthen lamps in memory of the late music legend," said Niroda Devi, principal of Cotton College.
Hazarika then completed his Bachelor in Arts and Masters in Political Science from Benaras Hindu University in 1944. In 1949, he went to the USA to study at Colombia University in New York, from where he completed his PhD in 1952 for his thesis 'Proposals for preparing India's basic education to use audio-visual techniques in adult education'.