Unity dance ballad in Bhupenda's memory

TOI NEWS GUWAHATI: In memory of legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika, the students of Delhi's Ramjas College and Gauhati Commerce College of the city will perform a dance ballad representing northeastern forms of dance and music on the Delhi University campus.

The dance ballad, organized under the guidance of dance exponent Nrityacharya Jatin Goswami, will be held in the auditorium of Ramjas College on November 18. The theme of the event is 'Unity in diversity'.

The two colleges have joined hands to showcase the cultural programme in memory of Assam's most renowned singer-composer, who breathed his last on November 5. The theme of the dance ballad, 'Unity in diversity', takes off from what Bhupenda preached in his songs. Bhupenda's songs were loved by music-lovers the world over.

The performance, which will be staged by a 52-member dance troupe from Gauhati Commerce College, will take in elements of various dance forms including Sattriya, Bagurumba dance form of the Bodo community, Nakchung Reni of the Rabhas, the Mising Bihu, and Jhumur dance of the Santhal tribe. The dance will be complemented by folk music including Kamrupi lokgeet, Goalparia lokgeet and Bihu geet.

The event will showcase the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the northeast to the people of Delhi. Goswami said, "Besides paying a tribute to Bhupenda, the event has been organized with the noble purpose of bridging the cultural gap among students. The performance will showcase our rich cultural heritage, folk music and dances that bind us together."

The students of Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, which is also located in Delhi, are eagerly awaiting the dance ballad. Pallavi Deka, a PhD student of JNU, said, "We are so excited about this event. The show will help improve people's understanding of the northeast, which has been neglected for a long time from the cultural point of view." Deka said the show would also help make Bhupenda's music more popular among people outside the state. "The show is a tribute to the Bard of Brahmaputra whose music compels listeners to introspect and think in a progressive manner."

The North East India image managers (NEIim) have facilitated correspondence regarding this event between the two colleges. Soumya Dev, spokesperson of NEIim, said, "We are honoured to be a part of this event that is dedicated to Bhupenda. His humanitarian views and beliefs, which are reflected in his songs, are exactly what this dance ballad is trying to display."