It was the end of an era as the mortal remains of the bard from Assam, Bhupen Hazarika, went up in flames Wednesday with his son Tej lighting the funeral pyre amid sobs and wails from a sea of humanity.
Heartrending scenes were witnessed at the Gauhati University campus, close to the banks of the great Asian river Brahmaputra. As the funeral pyre was lit at 10.26 a.m., chants of 'Bhupen Hazarika amar raho' rent the air and people broke down, with some crying loudly and others barely managing to hold back their tears.An overwhelmed Tej pleaded with the surging crowd to control themselves and maintain calm even as Hazarika's companion of 40 years, Kalpana Lajmi, cried inconsolably, unable to check her emotions.
"I am speechless with the overwhelming response and love for my father," an emotional Tej told , after performing the last rites of the 85-year-old legend.
An estimated 100,000 people were present at the funeral site, some atop trees, and others trying witness the last rites from every possible vantage point available in the area.
A 21-gun salute was offered by the Assam Police with doctors and forensic experts taking the foot impressions of the man for posterity.
Among those present at the funeral were Governor J.B. Patnaik and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Also around was leader of the opposition in parliament and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj, besides a galaxy of celebrities and eminent citizens.
"I am speechless with the overwhelming response and love for my father," an emotional Tej told , after performing the last rites of the 85-year-old legend.
An estimated 100,000 people were present at the funeral site, some atop trees, and others trying witness the last rites from every possible vantage point available in the area.
A 21-gun salute was offered by the Assam Police with doctors and forensic experts taking the foot impressions of the man for posterity.
Among those present at the funeral were Governor J.B. Patnaik and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Also around was leader of the opposition in parliament and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj, besides a galaxy of celebrities and eminent citizens.
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