Infrastructure/North-East : Connecting People

The country’s longest Dhola-Sadiya bridge, named after Bhupen Hazarika, not only reduces the travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by around 5 hours, but also opens the doors for further integration of the region

NJ Thakuria
It was assumed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would declare the Dhola-Sadiya bridge of Assam in the name of Dr Bhupen Hazarika and was also apprehended that the Communist China would react to the project, as it is hardly 100 km away from India-Tibet border. Both turned into reality.

On completion of three years at office by NDA government at the Centre, PM Shri Modi arrived in Assam on May 26 and dedicated the river bridge over Lohit, a major tributary of mighty Brahmaputra, to the nation. Shri Modi, who arrived in the far eastern part of the country during morning hours from New Delhi and
inaugurated the bridge, constructed with the budget of Rs 950 crore, naming it after legendary Assamese cultural
personality Bhupen-da, as Dr Hazarika was popularly known among millions of his fans. Significantly, the Setu connecting Dhola to Sadiya is the longest bridge in the country.
Addressing a public rally at Dhola in Tinsukia District, Shri Modi expressed hope that the 9.16 km long bridge would enhance connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh opening doors for economic developments. He also hoped that it would fulfill a vital requirement in terms of India’s  defence perspective as it is near to the McMahon Line.
The bridge is expected to reduce the distance from Rupai (Assam) on NH-37 to Meka-Roing (Arunachal Pradesh) on NH-52 by 165 km and thus give a major boost to overall economic developments in the alienated region. The Prime Minister also added that the sustainable infrastructure along with road and rail connectivity is extremely important for the development. “The effort of the Union government is to fulfil the dreams and wishes of the people,”  commented Shri Modi in the presence of Assam Governor Shri Banwarilal Purohit and State Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal adding that the Centre was placing great emphasis on the development of waterways as well in the region.
Shri Modi asserted that the eastern and north-eastern parts of India have the greatest potential for economic
development. The enhanced connectivity between the region and other parts of the country, and also good communication linking the region with the economy of south east Asia remains the priority for the Centre, he declared. In fact, a number of individuals along with few civil society groups urged the Centre to name the bridge after the music maestro, where the Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) and the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS) had separately advocated for honouring Bhupen-da. Both the organisations argued that the singer with an immortal voice emerged as a man of assimilation embracing various community and tribes of the region like a golden thread.
The PPFA pointed out that Dr Hazarika was born at Sadiya (on September 8, 1926) and he made the first film titled ‘Meri Dharam Meri Maa’ representing Arunachal. He was the most visible individual of the region for many decades. Preferred to declare himself as a Jajabor (wanderer), Bhupen-da successfully tried his hands in various creative space as a poet, lyricist, singer, music composer, author, journalist and filmmaker.
The APLS asserted out that Dr Hazarika worked relentlessly for unity and integrity for all caste, creed and religions through his songs and music till hid demise in 2011. He is hailed as the uncrowned king of the region’s
cultural world. His songs continue to be popular even today as those contain the humanity above everything.
The bard of Brahmaputra is equally popular in other parts of India along with Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Bhupen-da got PhD in mass communication (1952) from Columbia University, New York. He was conferred on Padamshree (1977) and Padma Bhushan (2001) besides Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992), the first and only one from northeast India to receive the honour till date.
The child prodigy sang and performed in ‘Indramaloti’, the second Assamese talkie film made by Jyotiprasad Agarwala in 1939. Hazarika penned thousands of lyrics and rendered his crisp voice for nearly 1500 songs. He had composed music for 36 Assamese films with few Bengali (Jiban Trishna, Jonakir Alo, Mahut Bandhure, Kari o Komal, Ekhane Pinjar, Dampati etc) and Hindi (Aarop, Ek Pal, Rudaali, Papiha, Darmiyaan, Daman, Gajagamini etc) movies.
As a director, some of his outstanding Assamese films include ‘Era Batar Sur’ (1956), ‘Shakuntala’ (1960), ‘Pratidhwani’ (1964), ‘Lotighoti’ (1967), ‘Chick Mick Bijuli’ (1970), ‘Mon Projapati’ (1978), ‘Siraj’ (1988) etc. He won President’s award for ‘Shakuntala’, ‘Pratidhwani’ and ‘Lotighoti’ as a film maker. Bhupen-da was honoured with best music director award for ‘Chameli Memsaab’ in 1976 (It was the first national award in music direction for the Assamese film industry).
Soon after the Chinese aggression in 1962, Bhupen-da visited the Kameng locality of Arunachal and created his
eternal lyrics ‘…Aaji Kameng Simanta Dekhilo, Dekhi Shatrur Pashutwa Chinilo… (Seen today the Kameng
border and realised the barbarity of enemies meaning Red China)’ paying homage to the soldiers, who sacrificed their lives in the war. And the reaction from Beijing came accordingly after the grand
inauguration of the Bhupen Hazarika Setu. The Chinese administration asked New Delhi to be cautious and exercise restraint over building infrastructure in and around Arunachal, which they claim it to be southern part of Tibet. It was, however, none other than rhetoric as Beijing continues making noises, where last time it did so to oppose Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang few months back.