Sept. 8: Assam education minister Sarat Borkotoky today promised to create two chairs in the name of Bhupen Hazarika in Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University.

The promise to honour the maestro, who passed away on November 5, 2011, came at Sonari in Upper Assam's Sivasagar district where Asam Sahitya Sabha centrally organised the 89th birth anniversary celebrations of the singer in association with its Sivasagar district unit.

Borkotoky's promise came after the Sabha's request to the government to do the needful to honour Hazarika. The state government has already faced flak from different quarters for its "failure" to complete Hazarika's memorial at Jalukbari in Guwahati even four years after the singer's demise.

"The education minister promised to finish all official work to create the chairs," said an official of the Sabha.

People from across the state today remembered the singer by singing and dancing to his evergreen songs. Hazarika reigns in their hearts, upholding humanity and brotherhood.

When the singer passed away, many were worried on whether the new generation would carry forward Hazarika's songs. Guitarist Kamal Kataky, who worked with Hazarika for decades, is optimistic after having seen the acceptance of Hazarika's music by the new generation.

"Initially, because of factors like globalisation, people were worried whether the new generation would accept Hazarika's style of singing. But, today, four years down the line, we have seen that the major chunk of the new generation is learning his songs. This is a very good sign," Kataky told The Telegraph.

In Guwahati, All Assam Students' Union (AASU) celebrated the occasion in a befitting manner.

The AASU organised "Uddipana" at Shanti Udayan, situated along the bank of historic Dighalipukhuri, where people, young and old alike, turned up in large numbers. During the function, the best singers from different colleges of 27 districts rendered songs of Bhupen Hazarika.

"Hazarika's creations have been a guiding force for Assamese society, besides being a source of inspiration. We need to carry on his legacy and infuse it in the minds of the new generation," AASU general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said.

A statue of the doyen stands tall at Shanti Udayan and people paid tribute by lighting earthen lamps. The emphasis of AASU's function was on unity among ethnic communities, especially because Assam is currently witnessing demands for division of the state on ethnic lines.

Adviser to AASU Samujjal Bhattacharya said the area used for construction of a memorial of the singer at Jalukbari is small. "Gauhati University promised land up to a nearby hillock to construct the memorial. Now, it seems that the area is quite small. The government should acquire the promised land and make the area better than Rajghat," he said at Jalukbari.

Cultural affairs minister Bismita Gogoi said the memorial would be completed by next month. However, sources said only the structure of the memorial would be ready by next month.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated Bhupen Hazarika Mukali Mancha and Uddyan (open air stage and park) at Bondapara in Kamrup. It was one of the nearly 200 stages set up across the state today.

Samar Hazarika, Bhupen Hazarika's brother, thanked the government for building such platforms across the state.

"Bhupen Hazarika had a dream of such a springboard for the singing talents of rural areas. It is fulfilled by the government," he said.