The year-long celebration began on 22 December, 2013 with a mega cultural evening as the curtain raiser. Various socio-cultural organisations of Delhi & NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, USA, UK and Kuwait have already consented to be part of the celebration.
The celebration aims at making the new generation Assamese people specially the global Non-resident Assamese aware about Bezbaroa and inspiring them with his ideals in being connected to their roots and in being proud of their heritage. The celebration will also create awareness at National level about Bezbaroa as a great litterateur and a social reformer of India.
Lakshminath Bezbaroa was a product and part of the intellectual awakening of India in the 19th century. He made pioneering contributions to almost all forms of Assamese literature - poems, novels, short stories, collection of folk tales, dramas, biographical works and satirical essays. 125 years back, in then Calcutta, it was he who as a student inspired and led many Assamese youth to set up an organisation for development of Assamese language which was instrumental in rejuvenating Assamese literature by publishing literary magazines Jonaki and Banhi.
Kuldip Nayar, the veteran journalist, human right activist, author and a nominated Member of Rajya Sabha was invited as the Chief Guest. B. K Handique, Member of Parliament, Loksabha, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod Maestro and a few dignitaries were also invited as Guests of Honour.
After felicitation and ceremonial lighting of lamp by Chief Guest, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan unveiled a portrait of Sahityrathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa. A beautiful song of Bezbaroa termed as Asom Sangeet- Music of Assam was presented in chorus by a group of men and women, Boys and girls in the beginning.
Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan, the young exponents of Indian classical music were invited to perform in the event. They have inherited the musical tradition of six generations from their father Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and have a strong connection with Assamese root because of their mother Subhalaxmi Baruah Khan from Assam, an exponent of Bharat Natyam herself. They enthralled the audience with their sarod recital.
Jayanti Chattopadhyay, Retired Professor of MIL Department of Delhi University released the Souvenir, published to commemorate the occasion. An audio of a song specially written by reputed lyricist Sarat Barkakati for the occasion and dedicated to the Non-resident Assamese people was released.
Angaraag Papon Mahanta, the icon of Assam who has successfully experimented fusion with Assamese folk music in Coke Studio and sung popular Bollywood numbers like Jiyein Kyun, Zindagi Aisi Waisi, then hypnotized the audience with his lively performance and rendition of popular numbers.
The audience stood up and joined in singing the State anthem of Assam-O mor aponar desh at the close of the programme.
The celebration aims at making the new generation Assamese people specially the global Non-resident Assamese aware about Bezbaroa and inspiring them with his ideals in being connected to their roots and in being proud of their heritage. The celebration will also create awareness at National level about Bezbaroa as a great litterateur and a social reformer of India.
Lakshminath Bezbaroa was a product and part of the intellectual awakening of India in the 19th century. He made pioneering contributions to almost all forms of Assamese literature - poems, novels, short stories, collection of folk tales, dramas, biographical works and satirical essays. 125 years back, in then Calcutta, it was he who as a student inspired and led many Assamese youth to set up an organisation for development of Assamese language which was instrumental in rejuvenating Assamese literature by publishing literary magazines Jonaki and Banhi.
Kuldip Nayar, the veteran journalist, human right activist, author and a nominated Member of Rajya Sabha was invited as the Chief Guest. B. K Handique, Member of Parliament, Loksabha, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod Maestro and a few dignitaries were also invited as Guests of Honour.
After felicitation and ceremonial lighting of lamp by Chief Guest, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan unveiled a portrait of Sahityrathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa. A beautiful song of Bezbaroa termed as Asom Sangeet- Music of Assam was presented in chorus by a group of men and women, Boys and girls in the beginning.
Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan, the young exponents of Indian classical music were invited to perform in the event. They have inherited the musical tradition of six generations from their father Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and have a strong connection with Assamese root because of their mother Subhalaxmi Baruah Khan from Assam, an exponent of Bharat Natyam herself. They enthralled the audience with their sarod recital.
Jayanti Chattopadhyay, Retired Professor of MIL Department of Delhi University released the Souvenir, published to commemorate the occasion. An audio of a song specially written by reputed lyricist Sarat Barkakati for the occasion and dedicated to the Non-resident Assamese people was released.
Angaraag Papon Mahanta, the icon of Assam who has successfully experimented fusion with Assamese folk music in Coke Studio and sung popular Bollywood numbers like Jiyein Kyun, Zindagi Aisi Waisi, then hypnotized the audience with his lively performance and rendition of popular numbers.
The audience stood up and joined in singing the State anthem of Assam-O mor aponar desh at the close of the programme.