Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma paid tribute to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on her birth anniversary on Monday. He remembered her special musical connection with Assam and her long association with legendary singer-composer Dr Bhupen Hazarika. Sarma said their music created a lasting cultural link between Assam and Maharashtra. Key HighlightsLata Mangeshkar sang her first Assamese song in 1956.The song was composed by Dr Bhupen Hazarika.Sarma remembered their musical bond that continued for decades.The song remains an important part of Assam's musical memory.Lata Mangeshkar's Assamese Musical ConnectionHimanta Biswa Sarma shared a link to Lata Mangeshkar's Assamese song “Jonakore Rati, Asomire Maati” on social media. The song was composed by Dr Bhupen Hazarika for the 1956 Assamese film “Era Bator Xur.” The Chief Minister said the song became an important part of Assam's musical memory. He also remembered the long musical association between Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupen Hazarika.Their work brought together two different cultural regions. Their music also helped connect Assam with Maharashtra through a shared love for songs and culture.Sarma Recalls Musical BondSarma said that Lata Mangeshkar's connection with Bhupen Hazarika was not limited to one song. According to his tribute, their musical relationship continued for many years.“Her first Assamese song, ‘Jonakore Rati, Asomire Maati’, composed by Dr Bhupen Hazarika for ‘Era Bator Xur’ in 1956, became an enduring part of Assam’s musical memory. Their remarkable musical bond continued for decades.” The Chief Minister also recalled a cultural link associated with the word “Aai.” He said Lata Mangeshkar had once noted that the word means mother in both Marathi and Assamese.Sarma said this shared word represents a common expression of love between the two cultures. He linked the memory to the wider cultural connection between Assam and Maharashtra. Related Insta Video :Himanta Sarma Remembers Lata MangeshkaBhupen Hazarika's LegacyThe tribute also comes during celebrations connected with #BhupenDaAt100, marking the legacy of Dr Bhupen Hazarika.Hazarika remains an important name in Assam's music and cultural history. The Assam government also maintains cultural institutions and facilities connected with his legacy, including the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Memorial and the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.Lata Mangeshkar's Assamese song with Hazarika continues to be remembered as an important meeting point of two musical traditions. Sarma's tribute brought attention again to that shared history on her birth anniversary.The remembrance highlights how music can preserve cultural links across generations. The work of Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupen Hazarika continues to be remembered by music lovers in Assam and beyond.
