Guests admire the photo exhibition on Bhupen Hazarika on Monday. Picture by UB Photos

June 25: They are some of the best and rarest photographs of music maestro Bhupen Hazarika.

Collected from different parts of the state and shot by people ranging from professional photographers to close ones of Hazarika, an exhibition of these photographs was started at State Art Gallery today.

The weeklong exhibition has photographs capturing Hazarika’s childhood to his funeral pyre, intimate moments with his son and grandson to moments with people like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and M.F. Hussain.

A photograph of Bhupen Hazarika in a chair by employees of a private cement company, which triggered controversy in the state, was also a part of the exhibition. There are also photographs of Hazarika singing with his brother Jayanta Hazarika, his visit to Goalparia folk singer Pratima Pande when she was undergoing treatment during the last part of her life and when the singer passed time with Bollywood actor Dev Anand and musician Ustad Bismillah Khan.

The exhibition, organised by Assam Photojournalists’ Association, will conclude on Saturday.

“Around 400 photographs were sent by people from different parts of the state for the exhibition out of which 110 (both monochrome and colour) were selected finally,” said Bijo Boro, an organiser.

One of the organisers said they were thinking about preserving these photographs as a book to make them available to the people of the state. “We will make a book with all the photographs if we get financial support,” he said.

Manisha Hazarika, sister-in-law of Hazarika, praised the effort of the organisers in showcasing the life of the music maestro. “I am proud to be in such an exhibition on him (Bhupen Hazarika). The new generation should know about him. It would be fantastic if such an exhibition is organised on regular intervals,” he said.

Kamal Kataky, who played the guitar with Hazarika all through his life, said a documentary could be made on the photographs.

“It is difficult to define Bhupen Hazarika. All identities like lyricist, film director, singer, social activist and political personality all merge into him. Before his death it was an age of listening to his songs and after his death it is time to understand his songs,” said Kataky.

S.K. Srivastava, CMD of Oil India Limited, inaugurated the exhibition. “It is the best way to pay tribute to the singer,” he said.