Bhupen Hazarika to be Awarded the Bharat Ratna

RBN Web Desk: Legendary Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika has been conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award of merit, posthumously. Besides Hazarika, former President Pranab Mukherjee and social activist Nanaji Deshmukh will be honoured with the award.

The awards were announced at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

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Bhupen Hazarika, who died on 5 November 2011, was one of the most prominent singers in India. Besides being a playback singer, he was a songwriter, composer, poet, and filmmaker. Hazarika was hugely popular in West Bengal and in his home state Assam and was actively involved with the Indian People’s Theatre Association. His songs are known for universal brotherhood, humanity, and compassion, and have been translated into several languages.

The Bharat Ratna was instituted in 1954. It is conferred “in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order.”