And you thought it was only Thomas L. Friedman who gave a new shine to Globalisation in 2005? Many, many years before 2005 - when Dr Bhupen Hazarika sang - "Moi Eti Jajabor" to His audience in Assam, it carried strong traces of Globalisation: names of global rivers and cities in one Assamese song. The song with its lines...(in English) "I am a gypsy...from Brahmaputra, through Mississippi I have seen Volga. From Ottowa, through Austria I embraced Paris.”
That was not the only song that had the ubiquitous 'global' element and an 'universal' spirit in Bhupen Da's music. Right from His ode to Nelson Mandela to inspiring Bangladesh's liberation war - everything about Bhupen Da's music was true globalisation in form and spirit.
I feel Bhupen Da somehow epitomises certain characteristics of the Beat Generation of the 50s and the Hippies of the 60s. Just like the Beats and the Hippies, His messaging was anti-war, peace, love and universal brotherhood.
As You arrive on Your final journey at Your homeland today, I thank You for showing the world, all these years, the best of Assamese, but global music. At the same time, Your music stands as the biggest credible identity for Assam and I take great pride in being an Assamese because of You.
Sheer poetry set to music.That line about Gorky on the tomb of Mark Twain is haunting. As are the images of the homeless in the shadows of skyscrapers.Probably the very first song of globalization and universal brotherhood that speaks of so many different places that are geographically apart but bound by humanity; if not the only one.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel as a lyricist and song-writer he is unparalleled; someone like Bob Dylan. Only the fact that he wrote in Assamese which has a much lesser speaking population and that even good translations do not carry the weight of emotions and meaning in another tongue.
Excellent blog, Sunit. Keep it up.
Bhupen Da, we salute you and Mr. Bezbaroowa we adore you for making us think out of the box.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Kaushik: I could not agree more...!
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks much