A picture from Sarma’s family album of the lyricist and his widow Beauty Sarma Baruah at a recording studio

July 25: There was music in his pen. In an age where songs have come to hit the ear more than touch the soul, lyricist Dwijendra Mohan Sarma’s work embodies the lost charm of Assamese melodies.

On Friday, the Assamese music industry and friends and fans of the “poet with great melody” will celebrate Sarma’s contribution to music at the Rabindra Bhawan auditorium.

Sarma’s oeuvre consists of as many as 500 hits, penned for some of the most mellifluous voices of Assam.

Dwijendra Mohan Sarmar Monparasa Geetor Godhuli will be a tribute to the lyricist, whose sudden demise last year was a huge blow to the indigenous music scenario.

The three-hour soiree will see veteran singers and popular artistes, including Khagen Mahanta, Archana Mahanta, Kula Barua, Pullock Banerjee, Dilip Das, Mihir Bordoloi, Anima Borthakur, Anima Choudhury and Meera Das Saharia coming together to remember the man and his works.

Three new albums will be unveiled at the function. Of these, Umalagharar Geet, is a children’s album of songs penned by Sarma and scored by Ramen Choudury. The collection has been sung by a number of child artistes. My Ornate Life will be a tribute to Sarma from his singer widow Beauty Sarma Baruah. She, too, will perform at the function. Music directors Ramen Choudhury and Bhupen Uzir have scored the music for the album. The third, Moonlight Melody, compiles the best of Sarma’s lyrics, sung by various artistes of the state.

“Work was his passion and he surrendered himself to it completely. Perhaps that is why he left such an indelible mark on the industry through his works. He may not be with us physically, but his lyrics are immortal and will always remain etched in our hearts,” said music critic Utpal Dutta, a close friend of Sarma’s.

Sarma was suffering from diabetes and succumbed to a massive heart attack on May 6 last year. He was 58.

“His untimely death came as a big shock to music lovers of the state,” singer and family friend Manisha Hazarika said. “My husband Jayanta had lent his voice to some of the most touching lyrics penned by him. I don’t know when such lyrics will ever be written again.”

Sarma and Jayanta Hazarika came together for the evergreen Alo Bhubon Hayralu Kinaba that wafted into the hearts of music connoisseurs.

Manju Mala Sharma Phukan, a relative of Sarma’s who is a regular on the radio, said, “His lyrics have a magical flow and listeners are swept away by their energy. The industry is definitely feeling the void left by the lyricist’s death.”

Revered singers of the yesteryears, including Sudakshina Sarma, Jayanta Hazarika, Dilip Choudhury, Ridip Dutta, Charu Gohain and J.P. Das have given voice to his words.

Singers from the world of Hindi films, like Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal and Kavita Krishnamurthy too, have sung his compositions.

Sarma has also composed lyrics for several Assamese films.

Two of his most acclaimed books on songs are Mur Geet and Aanantorongor Aalap.

A man of many parts, Sarma had been a teacher at Arya Law College and held the post of news editor while at Doordarshan, Guwahati.