Assam felicitates singer Bhupen Hazarika

Colossal singer and lyricist Dr Bhupen Hazarika has been decorated with a Lifetime Achievement Award and the status of a Cabinet minister by Assam government.

The Pramathesh Baruah Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by the Cultural Affairs Department of Assam government was presented to the cultural icon of North East India by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a solemn function organized in Guwahati on Friday night for his all-round contribution towards culture and nation building.

The chief minister also announced the state government had decided to accord Cabinet rank to Dr Hazarika, a Dadasaheb Phalke award recipient, in recognition to his contribution to the social and cultural life in Assam and the national as a whole.

"The legendary artiste's contribution in the field of culture deserves no mention. We in Assam feel fortunate to have such a legendary personality amid ourselves." Gogoi said while facilitating the octogenarian artiste.

Accepting the award, Hazarika said, "I have been a cultural worker all my life, striving to promote the rich heritage of Assam throughout the world. I might have won many awards but the love and affection showered by people of Assam always have most humbling effect on me."

In the programme, Hazarika handed over various memorabilia, awards, trophies, film prints, certificates, audiocassettes and CDs to the chief minister for preservation and display at the proposed Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Museum to be set up in Guwahati.

Dr Hazarika called upon the youth of Assam to work hard to preserve the age-old bond of friendship among different ethnic groups in the state and excel in the field of culture that holds the key to integration.

ULFA chief's sister wins panchayat poll

Her elder brother has been leading a violent armed revolution against the State demanding the restoration of sovereignty of Assam and is one of the most wanted insurgent leaders in the country.

But that has not deterred Heeravati Chetia, the younger sister of the fugitive United Liberation Front of Asom commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, to contest the just held election to panchayat bodies in Assam and win it with a thumping margin.

She contested the Baruahola Panchayat body in Tinsukia's Chabua as a candidate of the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad and defeated her nearest Congress rival Manjula Barua with a big margin. The particular panchayat had been under Congress clutch for a long time.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress dominated the Panchayat elections in Assam by winning a majority of seats in almost all the districts, leavings it arch rivals the AGP and the BJP far behind. However, the party has won at least 20 per cent seats less than the previous round of panchayat polls held six years back.

The only consolation for the opposition camp is that the AGP has improved its tally and increased its share of votes compared to the last round of panchayat elections.

The BJP has managed to improve its performance in some Eastern Assam pockets.