Hazarika adjusts his Nepali cap. File picture

Guwahati, Nov. 9: Only death could separate them.

The black Nepali cap that sat like a crown on music maestro Bhupen Hazarika’s head for 46 years was removed at the last moment — after his body was placed on the pyre — to be preserved for posterity.

A state government official told The Telegraph that the family members removed the cap moments before the bard’s body was consigned to flames by his son Tez.

He said the cap, according to some family members, would be preserved at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

The cap was kept on till the last moment because it was Hazarika’s wish never to appear bald in public.

A few days back, when the bard was still conscious at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute in Mumbai, he had told his long-time companion Kalpana Lajmi to make sure that his cap, which was removed while he was in hospital, was put back when he died.

Hazarika’s biographer Surjya Hazarika, who is a Padma Shri awardee, said Bhupenda had been wearing the cap since 1965 and the khukuri pin that adorned it was a gift from his friends and admirers in Nepal.

“The music maestro used to say that he wore the cap because he loved the fit. Bhupenda was emotionally attached to the cap, as he loved the Nepali people. More importantly, he was very conscious about his appearance. There were several instances when the singer would change his dress three to four times if he did not feel comfortable. He loved his life and did not want to look old at any moment,” Hazarika said.

The biographer said it was because Bhupenda was consciousness about his appearance and did want his receding hairline to show, he always wore the cap in public. He said it was the singer’s wish that his cap should be put back when he died.

“So we decided to remove his cap when Bhupenda’s body was on the pyre and covered with wood so that the people went back with the abiding memory of Bhupenda in his Nepali cap. The cap will be preserved for posterity,” Hazarika said.

Manisha Hazarika, the bard’s sister-in-law, said the family would take an appropriate decision about how to preserve the cap. The family will take the decision in consultation with the state government.

Rahul Barua, a fan, said Bhupenda looked elegant and fascinating in his cap. “I cannot visualise Bhupenda without his trademark cap. The cap must be preserved very carefully,” he added.