Dibrugarh Airport Renamed in Honor of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
Historic Renaming of Dibrugarh Airport
Guwahati, June 9: The Assam Legislative Assembly has officially approved the renaming of Dibrugarh Airport to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Airport in a unanimous decision made on Monday.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his sentiments on a microblogging platform, stating, “This renaming serves as a fitting tribute to the legacy of Bharat Ratna, whose contributions to Assam and the nation are unmatched.”
During a special assembly session, the Chief Minister unveiled a series of events and initiatives to celebrate the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Hazarika. He outlined a roadmap for the celebrations, which will be guided by a 50-member committee formed for this purpose.
“We will kick off the celebrations on September 8 this year with a grand event at Khanapara in Guwahati, where 1,000 youths will perform ‘Axom Amar Rupahi’ together,” Sarma noted, mentioning that the first meeting of the centenary committee had recently taken place.
The celebrations will extend to various locations significant to Hazarika’s life, including Arunachal Pradesh, where he was born, as well as West Bengal and Maharashtra, where he built his career and garnered a vast following. Events in these regions will showcase his widespread appeal across India.
The centenary festivities are set to culminate on September 8, 2026, with a major event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, he added.
Alongside cultural programs, several legacy initiatives are in the works. A commemorative coin honoring Hazarika is being proposed, and a dedicated academic chair will be established at Banaras Hindu University to foster research on his life and contributions.
The state government also plans to publish a detailed book documenting the key events and contributions of Hazarika’s life. This book will be translated into 23 Indian languages and distributed to colleges, universities, libraries, and institutions nationwide. “Our goal is to ensure that Bhupen Hazarika’s legacy reaches every Indian household,” Sarma stated, adding that 1 million copies will be distributed within the state.
Encouraging public involvement, the Chief Minister remarked, “The birth centenary of Bhupen Hazarika should not be viewed merely as a government event. He was a people's artist and a cherished son of Assam. I urge everyone to contribute to preserving his legacy.”