Arunachal to Immortalise Bhupen Hazarika's Legacy With Museum

Marking 100 years of an icon who gave voice to the Northeast, Arunachal Pradesh is set to honour the legendary Dr Bhupen Hazarika with a series of landmark initiatives, including a dedicated museum and a bilingual commemorative book. The state government, led by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, has initiated preparations to celebrate the birth centenary of the cultural colossus whose music and message transcended borders, languages, and generations.

Museum in Roing to Commemorate a Cultural Titan

At the heart of the centenary celebrations will be the creation of a museum in Roing, located in the Lower Dibang Valley district — a place where Dr. Hazarika spent formative years of his artistic journey. The museum will showcase his life, works, and his enduring influence on the Northeast. Officials said it will serve as both a cultural archive and an educational space, chronicling his contributions to music, literature, cinema, and social unity.

“This museum will be more than a tribute — it will be a living monument to a man who built bridges between communities through his songs and ideas,” said Deputy CM Mein, who chaired a high-level coordination meeting on Saturday at the Civil Secretariat in Itanagar.

A timeless tribute in the making!
A museum dedicated to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika will soon come up in Roing, honoring his timeless legacy & bond with the region. A bilingual book on his life & music will also mark his centenary—celebrating unity through culture & song.#BhupenHazarika pic.twitter.com/iVgI7v5FUi

— CMO Arunachal (@ArunachalCMO) June 30, 2025

Bilingual Book to Chronicle a Pan-Indian Legacy

Alongside the museum, the government will publish a bilingual commemorative book—in English and Assamese—documenting Dr. Hazarika’s extraordinary life and the ideals he stood for. The book aims to capture the wide spectrum of his contributions, from music and poetry to civil rights and cultural advocacy, particularly his deep ties to Arunachal Pradesh.

Officials said the publication would be designed to resonate with both scholars and the general public, offering insights into how Hazarika's work shaped regional identity and promoted pan-Indian unity.

The centenary planning meeting, chaired by Deputy CM Mein, was attended by key state leaders and cultural figures. Present were Education and Tourism Minister P.D. Sona, MLAs Mutchu Mithi, Oken Tayeng, and Puinnyo Apum, as well as senior bureaucrats including Secretary (Planning) R.K. Sharma and Secretary to the Chief Minister Sadhana Deori.

Also participating were representatives from the cultural and literary sectors, including Y.D. Thongchi, President of the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society, and Manjula Hazarika, Secretary of the Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust, accompanied by her team.

A Legacy Beyond Borders

Though born in Assam, Bhupen Hazarika shared an enduring bond with Arunachal Pradesh. He worked extensively in the state, drawing inspiration from its landscapes, languages, and people. His songs celebrated the unity of India’s Northeast, highlighting its diverse cultures with empathy, pride, and poetic power.

Hazarika’s work carried messages of social justice, equality, and the power of cultural identity—values that remain deeply relevant in today’s India.

The government of Arunachal Pradesh has described the centenary initiative as “a timeless tribute in the making.” The twin projects—the museum and the commemorative volume—aim to educate, inspire, and remind generations of Hazarika’s timeless voice for unity in diversity.

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