The Hindu : National : Begin Assam talks: Hazarika

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 16, 2005

National

National

Begin Assam talks: Hazarika

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Admitting that he had stepped away from all things political, legendary balladeer Bhupen Hazarika said on Saturday that the Government must take the talk process in Assam a little more seriously by beginning it rather than just talking about it.

Here for his first live performance in three years, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner said although he did not dream of any immediate improvement, it was important that the peace process was taken ahead. Asked about his views on ULFA's demand for sovereignty, the singer, who had once volunteered to act as a mediator between the two sides, said, "I want to be a very good Assamese Indian. We are still waiting for the talks and they must begin.''

Noting that he had always written songs with a social orientation, Dr. Hazarika said: "I was the first person to talk about mediation then. ULFA had also requested me several times to mediate and I told them I don't believe in violence and they accepted my views. I have always pointed out the mistakes in some of the well-intended plans from both sides. Never have I been emotional in these matters, but logical. I am not an escapist and have been singing and shouting for peace whether it is in Mississippi or the banks of the Brahmaputra.''

Asked if he was still involved in the party matters of the Bharatiya Janata Party on whose ticket he fought and lost from Guwahati in the last Lok Sabha elections, he said he was done with politics. "I have left everything that has any smell of politics. I am in the world of art now. Some things happened (in life) and now for the rest of my life I will be completely busy with the world of art.'' Dr. Hazarika will present a multilingual recital "Legend's Nite — Brahmaputra to Mississippi''at the Siri Fort Auditorium on Sunday evening.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National