The Arunachal Pradesh government has erected a statue of legendary music composer and singer Bhupen Hazarika at Bolung village in Dibang Valley district of the State.
The ten-foot bronze statue, sculpted by Biren Singh of Guwahati, was erected in the village this year. It would be formally unveiled in the early part of 2018, an official said.
“The State government had allocated Rs. 30 lakh for the statue in 2015 as a tribute to the legendary singer. Bhupen da is more an Arunachalee than an Assamese,” Director of Research Department Batem Pertin said.
Bolung village is adjacent to Assam’s Sadiya area where his parents lived. He was often carried to the village by his elders. Later as a boy he also moved around the village frequently, an official said.
Mr. Pertin said that the government in 2016-17 also allocated Rs. 70 lakh for erection of two statues of Hazarika at Yazali in Lower Subansiri district and Itanagar.
Mr. Pertin, also the general secretary of the A.P. Literary Society, said that due to persuasion of the society, the government approved the Bolung project. “The land was donated by the sons of former MLA of Arunachal Pradesh Provisional Legislative Assembly Gora Pertin,” Mr. Pertin said.
