Government of Assam to confer first National Bhupen Hazarika Usha Mangeshkar Award: Himanta

The Assam government will confer the inaugural ‘Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award’ on eminent singer Usha Mangeshkar in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Indian music and her association with the maestro’s works, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Friday (October 23, 2026).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the award at the closing ceremony of the singer’s birth centenary celebrations at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 29, CM Sarma said at a press conference.

Also read: The artist salutes the musician

The Assam Cabinet on Friday (October 23) approved the introduction of an award to honor personalities for their contribution to music and culture and to preserve the legacy of the singer, composer and filmmaker, he added.

The award will be presented every three years to an internationally or nationally recognized personality in music, art or cinema and includes ₹10 lakh in cash and a citation.

Mr. Sarma said that around 5,000 to 7,000 people from across the country are expected to attend the final event. It will showcase the remarkable artistic legacy and multifaceted genius of Bhupen Hazarika, whose music, poetry and humanistic philosophy transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, he said.

Renowned singers Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal and artists from Assam will also pay musical tribute to the maestro, celebrating his enduring contribution to India’s cultural heritage, the CM said.

Mr. Sarma said that an exhibition will also be organized on the occasion to showcase Hazarika’s timeless creations to a wider international audience.

He said the culmination of the year-long celebrations must reflect the status of a cultural icon whose creative genius has enriched Assam and the entire nation.

The CM pointed out the importance of conveying Hazarika’s message of humanity, harmony and universal brotherhood to future generations while enhancing global recognition of his contributions to music, literature and culture.

The concluding event is conceived as a landmark celebrating not only the extraordinary contribution of the ‘Bard of the Brahmaputra’, as the singer was popularly called, to the Indian cultural landscape, but also his enduring legacy as a voice that transcends borders and unites people through the universal language of music and humanity, the Chief Minister added.

The year-long birth centenary celebrations began last year with Modi attending a special gathering to pay tribute to the singer.

The Prime Minister also released a commemorative ₹100 coin issued by the Reserve Bank of India in honor of the singer, as well as a biography of the maestro titled ‘Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika’.

Hazarika was born on 8 September 1926 at Sadiya in Tinsukia district of Assam. He died on 5 November 2011 in Mumbai. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also approved an increase in the prize money for the prestigious ‘Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award’ to ₹ 15 lakh to reflect its status as a leading cultural honour, the CM said.

The Council of Ministers also finalized the list of recipients of state civilian awards for 2025, which will be presented in December.

Prominent ophthalmologist Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee has been nominated for the highest civilian award “Assam Baibhav”, he said.

‘Assam Saurav’ will be entrusted to Kushal Konwar Sarma (Wildlife Expert), Nuruddin Ahmed (Art Director), Pulak Banerjee (Singer) and Purnima Devi Barman (Conservationist).

Devi Prasad Bagrodia (Social Worker), Holicharan Narzary (Footballer), Simu Das (Visually Impaired Cricketer) and Harakanta Basumatary (Palm Oil Grower) and others will be entrusted with ‘Assam Gaurav’.

The Cabinet also approved the notification of the Assam Mineral Regulation and Dealers (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which amends the rules for 2020. This amendment categorizes the extracted limestone into different grades such as high, medium and basic grade of cement in categories 1, 2 and 3.

This ensures that the government collects pro rata royalties based on the quality of the limestone rather than one flat rate.

The Cabinet approved an investment proposal by M/s Weetek Plastic Private Limited (Welspun Group) to set up its manufacturing unit in Kamrup district of Rangia for a proposed investment of ₹ 303.69 crore. It employs 300 people.

The cabinet also approved the election rules for the autonomous councils of Mising and Sonowal Kachari.

Sarma said the State Election Commission has been advised to hold elections to both the councils in November.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 04:55 IST