Jorhat, Nov. 12: Assam's cultural capital led with the formal launching of the Jorhat chapter of Bhupen Hazarika Foundation by his son Tej Hazarika here today.

The foundation, registered in Guwahati in 2013, will begin functioning with the focus on propagating the humanitarian values of the legendary singer till it crosses international borders.

"In none of my father's works have I found him discriminating any tribe, culture, caste or religion. He had a rare inclusiveness which should be taken to the grassroots level and beyond borders," Hazarika said.

He added that he had envisaged a unified stream where everyone was participating in upholding and propagating Bhupen Hazarika's legacy. The Foundation would aim to carry forward the maestro's vision for the evolution of the people of Assam and the region, based on respect for diversity and human rights," Hazarika added.

"Assam is fortunate to understand Bhupen Hazarika's work but we have to depend on translations. Translating his songs into all the major languages of the Northeast and India will be our prime aim. Besides, we will also translate the folk stories and other body of literature of the region after selection," Hazarika added. The singer's work would be translated into Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Gujarati, and several south Indian and northeastern languages like Bodo, Kachari, Naga, Khasi, Manipuri and Bengali. The foundation will also develop green businesses such as handicrafts, eco-tourism, organic food byproducts of natural resources.

Hazarika said International Bhupen Hazarika Foundation would also be opened probably in New York. In its global outreach programme, the Foundation will attempt to lionise Bhupen Hazarika's name through institutions and communities, excellence awards, chairs, scholarships contests, names of buildings, public services and other public works. Historical research and documentation, creating an online repository and archiving Bhupen Hazarika's life and creations would be among the other works of the Foundation.

Secretary of its Guwahati branch, Dipankar Hazarika, said the Foundation's work should be able to influence generations to come on Bhupen Hazarika's humanitarian ideals for the next 1,000 years. He added that Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki had narrated several tales about the singer. "There are many like him who are not litterateurs but have anecdotes to tell about Hazarika, all these stories will also be compiled and published," he said.