July 02, 2024

Bhupen Hazarika Biography, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Facts, Caste, Wiki & More

Updated On : September 8, 2022

Short Biography

Bhupen Hazarika, one of the legendary artists was born in Sadiya, Tinsukia in the state of Assam on 08-09-1926. He was an Indian Singer, Playback Singer, Songwriter, Lyricist, Musician, Composer, Writer, Poet, Screenwriter, Film Actor, Film Director, Film Producer & Politician who was known for his work in Assamese & Hindi cinema. He is recognized among the pioneers to have introduced Assamese folk music and culture in Hindi cinemas.

Bhupen Hazarika Complete Bio & Career

He was the eldest son of Shantipriya and Nilakanta Hazarika who had ten children. His mother exposed him to the folk music of Assam. At the age of 10 in 1936, he recorded his first song for the Selona Company at the Aurora Studio. Subsequently, he sang Biswo Bijoyi Naujawan and Kaxote Kolosi Loi for the Assamese film Indramalati (1939) and wrote Agnijugor Firingoti Moi his first song when he was 13.
 
Bhupen Hazarika completed his schooling in 1942 at Tezpur High School and did his MA in Political Science from Cotton College in 1946. Later, he earned his Ph.D. Degree from Columbia University in 1952 where he also met Priyamvada Patel and married her. He has his only child with her named Tez Hazarika.
 
He was the MLA (Independent) in the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1967-72 and also contested as the candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Lok Sabha election in 2004. He was a legend and as a singer, he will always be remembered for his diction and baritone voice. As a lyricist, he will always be remembered for his parables and poetic compositions. His song Manush Manusher Jonno was chosen as the 2nd best song in Bangladesh after their National Anthem. A biopic film was made about him titled Moi Eti Zazabor (I am a Wanderer) in 1986. For all his achievements, he was felicitated with Bharat Ratna posthumously in the year 2019.

Bhupen Hazarika Popular Videos

Honours & Awards

AWARD NAME AWARD CATEGORY RECEIPT YEAR RECEIPT FIELD
Padma Shri Civilian Award 1977 Arts
Dadasaheb Phalke Award Indian Cinema Award 1992 Assamese Film Industry
Padma Bhushan Civilian Award 2001 Arts
Padma Vibhushan Civilian Award 2012 Arts
Bharat Ratna Civilian Award 2019 Arts

Health Issues, Illness and Death Info

Bhupen Hazarika died on 05-11-2011 in Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, India at the age of 85. He was suffering from age-related issues and he was admitted to Mumbai at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. He took his last breath in the hospital after a multi-organ failure. He was cremated near the Brahmaputra River on 09-11-2011.

DEATHDAY 5 November,2011 (Tuesday)
DEATH PLACE Mumbai, Maharashtra
DEATH COUNTRY India

Bhupen Hazarika Family, Relatives and Other Relations

Father Nilakanta Hazarika
Mother Shantipriya Hazarika
Siblings Nine (including Jayanta Hazarika)
Wife Priyam Hazarika (Married in 1950)
Son Tej Hazarika (Born in 1952)
Daughter None
Other Relatives Manisha Hazarika (sister-in-law), Mayukh Hazarika (nephew)

He was born to Nilakanta Hazarika & Shantipriya Hazarika. He had nine younger siblings including his younger brother Jayanta Hazarika who was also a famous Assamese singer. His brother Jayanta Hazarika died on 15-10-1977 at the age of 34. He was married to Priyam Hazarika in 1950. Together they had a son named Tej Hazarika, who was born in 1952. The Indian playback singer Manisha Hazarika is his sister-in-law and playback singer Mayukh Hazarika is his nephew.

Life's Important Dates Of Bhupen Hazarika

Body Measurements

Skin Colour Fair
Eye Colour Dark Brown
Hair Colour Salt & Pepper

Personal Info

Home Town Sadiya, Tinsukia, Assam, India
Nationality Indian
Religion Hindu
Address Guwhati, Assam, India
School Sonaram High School, Guwahati
Dhubri Government High School, Guwahati
Tezpur High School, Guwahati
College Cotton College, Guwahati
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Columbia University, New York
Qualification Ph.D.
Hobbies Travelling, Reading, Writing
Marital Status Married
Debut Assamese Film (as a playback singer) - Kaxote Kolosi Loi for film Indramalati (1939)
Salary N/A
Net Worth $10 Million
Official Website http://www.bhupenhazarika.com
Best Songs Siraj (1948), Pioli Phukan (1955), Era Bator Sur (1956), Shakuntala Sur (1961) and Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (1973) among others

Favourites

Favorite Color White, Black
Favorite Politician Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Favorite Singer Lata Mangeshkar
Favorite Place Historical Places
Favorite Dress Kurta Pajama
Favorite Food Sea Food
Favourite Bhajan Vaishnav Jan

Shocking / Interesting Facts & Secrets About Bhupen Hazarika

  • At the age of 13, he wrote his first song.
  • At the age of 10, he started singing because of his interest in singing since childhood.
  • He wrote a thousand songs and even 15 books in his lifetime.
  • In 1993, he became the first Indian to win the award for Best Music for the film Rudaali at the Asia Pacific International Film Festiva held in Japan.
  • In 2019, the Government of India honored him with India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
  • The India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor on 03-05-2013.
  • The 2nd commemorative postage stamp was issued by the India Post in his honor on 30-12-2016.
  • Google honored him with a Google Doodle on his 96th birth anniversary i.e. 08-09-2022.

Bhupen Hazarika Age, Birthday Facts and Birthday Countdown

Bhupen Hazarika was 85 years 1 month & 27 days old age.