Bard of Brahmaputra’s Funeral Creates World Record

Legendary composer and singer Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s funeral creates world record with the highest gathering of mourners paying tributes, over two days; though, Michael Jackson memorial service holds record as the most watched funeral on television.

Photo Courtesy - JCCNEWSTV.COM

 

As recorded in Wikipedia, the wiki structured online encyclopaedia, Dr. Hazarika’s funeral was attended by 5 (five) lacs people and watched by 30 (thirty) lacs people on Television.

Born in Sadiya, Assam, on 8th Sept, 1926, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was a noted music director, playwright, actor, journalist, author, lyricist, poet, politician and film-maker of the highest repute. He was known for his crisp baritone voice and flawless diction. He started his music career by writing and singing his first song at the age of 10 and working for the second Assamese film, Indramalati (Dir - Jyoti Prasad Agarwala), in 1939, when he was 12 years old.

Hazarika died on November five in Mumbai and his body lay in state at the historic Judges Field for two days from the night of November 7 for people to pay their homage before cremation on November 9.

Dr. Hazarika’s funeral has made it to Wikipedia’s notable funerals representing historical funerals, based on both the number of attendants and estimated television.

The list includes, among others, the funerals of Elvis Presley, Lady Diana Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King Jr, Joseph Stalin, Joseph Tito, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Montazeri, Benigno Aquino, C R Annadurai and Aryton Senna.

-by Parmita Borah / Jim Ankan Deka

Other Dr. Bhupen Hazarika articles - Assamese Maestro Turns 86 ; Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the Legend of Assam ; Dr. Bhupen Hazarika - the Great Ballad Singer of India