Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Dec 8: The bronze statue of legendary singer and composer Bhupen Hazarika at Bolung village in Dambuk subdivision of Lower Dibang Valley district will be unveiled jointly by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 15 December.
This was informed by Research Director Batem Pertin at the press club here on Saturday afternoon. The 10 feet 6 inches tall statue is named the ‘Statue of Brotherhood’.
“Following the proposal by the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), Rs 30 lakhs was allocated under AOP (SADA) 2015-’16 for the project by the state government during Nabam Tuki’s tenure as the chief minister,” Pertin said.
It is said that Hazarika was born in Bolung, when the entire area was known as Sadiya, in the early 1920s.
Addressing the media persons, APLS president YD Thongchi informed that the statue has been sculpted by the legendary sculptor from Assam, Biren Singha, and that the plot for its installation was donated by the family members of eminent social worker Gora Pertin.
Thongchi said the Statue of Brotherhood would evoke the sense of fraternity among the people of Arunachal and Assam, especially in the boundary areas.
“The sense of affection and respect for Dr Bhupen Hazarika would help in promoting communal harmony among the people of the two states,” said Thongchi.
He informed that quotes by late Hazarika on his feelings about the (then) NEFA, along with quotes by eminent personalities of the country and the state on late Hazarika are inscribed at the base of the statue “to reflect the personality of late Hazarika.”
Commenting on why Bolung village was selected for the erection of the statue, Thongchi said “various sources indicate that Bolung village was the birthplace of the legendary artist.”
He expressed hope that the statue would carry forward late Hazarika’s aspiration for a united Arunachal and Assam in the form of cultural exchanges and a sense of brotherhood among the people.
Thongchi said the unveiling ceremony would be followed a cultural programme featuring artists from both the states.
