Bhupen Hazarika celebrates his 85th birthday at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. File picture Samyabrata Ray Goswami

Mumbai, Nov. 3: For most staffers at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Bhupen Hazarika is like an old acquaintance — he has been at the hospital since June.

They know which newspaper he reads — that he hates bland food and craves for prawn curry. They know him as a great Bollywood composer — they remember his lilting music in the Kalpana Lajmi film Rudaali. But very few know of him as a son of Assam.

On Wednesday, the man who put Assam on the global cultural map, seemed semi-consciously reminding all of his rich musical heritage as he lay connected to a life-support system. Critical, post a complete renal failure, the 86-year-old is responding only to Bihu geet — the earthy harvest songs of Assam — that are played to him from time to time.

And thanks to his attachment to Bihu songs, at least the ICU staff now know a bit about Assam.

“And it’s great music that moves even such a critically ill person,” says Dr Shalendra Goel, intensive and critical care specialist who is heading the team of doctors looking after Hazarika.

Hazarika is not in coma. He is conscious.

“He does not have the strength to talk or even open his eyes. But this music (Bihu) they play has some sort of effect on him. He moves his eyes and lightly taps a finger to the rhythm of the music,” said Goel.

The doctor may not be acquainted with his patient’s old ways, but those who have known him closely for decades back home in Assam say the tapping of fingers to the rhythm of music is as natural to the icon as breathing.

“He will respond to music as long as he breathes. If that finger stops tapping to music, Bhupenda will be no more,” said family friend Col Manoranjan Goswami of Guwahati.

Last Tuesday, the hospital’s media manager and fan Jayanta Saha had put his cell phone next to the semi-conscious Hazarika’s ears in ICU to play that incredibly loved number, Ganga amar Ma-Padma amar Ma, that made him a heartthrob of not just Assam-Bengal, but also of Bangladesh.

The song that had moved an entire people ripped apart by political boundaries, had also moved the singer-lyricist on his ICU bed.

“He blinked a bit and his face moved. And then he let out a deep breath,” said Saha.

Fitted with an artificial food pipe just before Diwali to help him eat after he developed pneumonia, Hazarika is now only surviving on parenteral nutrition that is being supplied intravenously.

As doctors fight for his life and almost the entire staff of Mumbai’s Assam Bhavan takes turns in groups to keep vigil, the Java Green café on the fifth floor ICU waiting lounge has turned into a mini-Assam.

His partner of over three decades, Kalpana Lajmi, waits listlessly — praying silently. She has spent most of her time at the hospital since Hazarika was admitted following pulmonary distress a few months after his cardiac bypass surgery.

“She has been living in the hospital practically since October 23, when he developed pneumonia and had to be shifted to the ICU,” said Dr Goel.

Sister-in-law Manisha Hazarika and sister Sudkashina Sarma are taking turns to be by the ailing Hazarika’s side.

“He is battling for life literally but we have not given up hope. And Hazarika is himself inspiring us. He is a fighter. He has come out of life-support-systems despite very critical situations twice in the past year. He is responding to the treatment. And above all to music. He has been on dialysis for three days now, but he is not unresponsive to treatment. His will to live is strong and that is our biggest weapon,” said Goel.