Thousands broke down as Assam bade tearful adieu to its pride Bhupen Hazarika with full state honours including a 21-gun salute on Wednesday.
The cultural icon was cremated at the Gauhati University campus on the bank of the Brahmaputra. The last rites were performed by Hazarika’s only son Tez. Hazarika, 85, died of multiple organ failure in Mumbai on Saturday.
Assam governor JB Patnaik, chief minister Tarun Gogoi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Union minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar, Hazarika’s companion and filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, his family members and relatives, and a host of dignitaries were present at the funeral attended by approximately 30,000 mourners.
Earlier, the remains, carried in a specially decorated vehicle from the Judges’ Field, reached the site of funeral at 9.30am. Tens of thousands of people had lined up all along the 15-km stretch.
They cried, clapped and chanted ‘long live Bhupenda’ as the cortege moved on.
