On Sunday, an official said that the Assam government has acquired the land and house that once were owned by Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika at Kuthori near the Kaziranga National Park to set up a cultural center.
The seven bighas of land were given over to the culture department by Kaliabor Sub-divisional Officer P K Das last month.
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Proposed to set up a cultural project at the site
The Assam government plans to build a cultural project at the location in Nagaon district, which will feature a museum, a movie hall, and a library to preserve Hazarika’s works, which include his songs and literary works, he said.
‘Apun Ghar’
In 1974, the Dada Saheb Phalke awardee purchased land in the Kaliabor subdivision and built a house called ‘Apun Ghar’ (one’s own home).
Family members said, he also had plans to establish a cultural center there.
The Unavoidable circumstance
At this mansion, Bhutan Hazarika composed some timeless melodies and penned numerous literary works.
Regardless, he had to sell both the land and the house due to some unavoidable circumstances, but his fans and intellectuals had pleaded with the state government to procure those and build up a cultural center in his memory.
A tribute to Assam’s cultural dozen
Officials said, the owner of the property, who did not wish to be recognized, agreed to give it to the state government for setting up the project as a tribute to Assam’s cultural doyen.
A statue of the famed singer-musician-filmmaker had previously been placed in front of the residence by Keshab Mahanta, Local MLA and Health Minister.
Buying back the property
Former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his cabinet colleagues had decided to buy back the property and set up a cultural center.
The Sonowal government also took possession of Hazarika’s Kolkata home in the Golf Green neighborhood, which the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to add to its list of heritage structures.
At Srimanta Sankardeva Kalashetra, a Bhupen Hazarika Museum was already set up during his lifetime, where various memorabilia like awards and honors were received by him, books, photographs, musical instruments, from his collection, and other personal artifacts are on display.
At Mumbai, on November 5, 2011, Bhupen Hazarika had died and was cremated at Jalukbari in Guwahati.
