The Rediff Interview/Bhupen Hazarika
'If they don't meet and talk, in about 15 years the North-East
will be in darkness'
In a state ravaged by years of insurgency, composer and poet Bhupen Hazarika has been a voice of moderation. For years his revolutionary lyrics bearing powerful messages of social change have resounded in the hamlets and valleys of Assam.
The 71-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke award winner is a deeply unhappy man today: The situation in his native state troubles him consistently. "Sometimes in
the nights I cry for my state," he confesses.
In an attempt to resolve the deadlock, Hazarika offered last month to mediate between the Union government and the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom. For a man who is deeply respected in Assam, his inclination could hardly go unnoticed.
In a candid interview with Archana Masih, he spoke about the Assam he loves so much, his impressions of the 'angry young boys' and what can be done to save the state from disaster.
What are your best memories of Assam? You have lived in Bengal
and Maharashtra, in UP and America, what is it that sets Assam
apart?
Yesterday's Assam broke into seven pieces -- seven sisters as they
are now called. I was born in yesterday's Assam. In my 9 or 10th
year I realised that I was born in an anthropologist's paradise.
I was specially impressed with the simplicity of the people There
was unity in diversity. Those days I remember with immense happiness.
Then there was a pattern of tunes and rhythms around me. It was
very interesting that the same dance that I saw in Mizoram, I
saw in the Philippines as well. As far as the composition of the
Assamese population is concerned it is more a part of South-East
Asia than the rest of India. I thanked myself that this was a
haven to know people and thought of myself as a cultural labourer.
We had started singing when there were no microphones.
The most significant thing I felt in my youth was that integration
could be worked out in Assam. But after sometime when ethnic differences
arose, it all became different. I experienced a negative attitude
which started hurting me. I don't call
myself a cultural worker, I am a labourer.
Is it true that you are willing to mediate between the Union government and ULFA to restore peace to Assam?
The truth is that I was invited by Akashvani Guwahati to inaugurate
their 50th year celebrations. I was asked to sing the
same songs I had sung 50 years ago. It was also an opportunity
to pay homage to the artists of the North-East. One song meant
'I'll kill all the exploiters, I'll kill all the exploiters
by making an instrument of the skeletons of the exploiters.' During
that time those expressions were more powerful than an AK-47.
I have been writing these kinds of songs throughout my life, where
socially deprived people formed my subjects. I did not want to
be R D Burman, S D Burman or Mohammad Rafi. Music was my hobby and
I did not have any great monetary ambition in my life.
So it was on that evening a professor in the audience asked me
about my opinion on the traumatic situation in the North-East.
I was asked this question on a purely non-political evening. I
replied that I wanted peace and that others also wanted the same.
This was later confirmed by a phone call from Paresh Barua (the ULFA commander-in-chief). "Dada,
we also want peace," he said. I was sitting in the verandah of my
house with relatives, students and other friends when he called.
He congratulated me for coming to Assam after a long time
and asked, "Dada, how are you?"
I just listened to him. He asked about the new song I had
written. I told him that I still had to set it to tune. The song means
"If our destination is sunrise...why are you running towards the
sunset." All I said was that I want peace.
During another press conference one person asked me, "Suppose
you are called, will you be ready to mediate between the
Government of India, the Assam government and the angry young men."
So I replied that if the question arises then I'm sure quite a
few people would be called. In case anyone wants me to participate
then I too could be one of those people.
Has anyone approached you so far?
Nobody has approached me yet. I also told them that my instrument
for social change has been my song. I have utilised it and I do
not believe that Assam, which is Mahabharat ka mahan ang
since the days of Mahabharat, should go anywhere else. I said
we are limbs, part of mother India. The trigger alone cannot
save society. These are the two objectives I stand for and
anyone who approaches me should keep this in mind.
Have you met Paresh Barua?
I met him in 1986 at a Bihu festival. They asked me what I thought
about their organisation. I told them that guerrilla warfare could
not be successful unless the people knew what kind of society would
emerge after breaking the present matrix of society. The people
need to know what new changes will take
place. I even told them that if some mothers give them milk for
three days and nights it did not mean that the entire people were
with them.
I used to do many road shows before -- one man shows from village
to village. That's how I became Bhupen Hazarika. During those
shows I have met many angry young men who have said to me, "Dada
gana chod do aur gun le lo," (Leave your song and pick
up the gun). I told them that my gaan (song) is my gun.
At this age I could not go to the jungles to show that I loved my
country. I can't prove that I love Assam by only getting angry.
I am happy about the Nagaland cease-fire. They have come together
and arrived at a decision. It is a good sign. Many people have
asked me if there were signs of helplessness or anger in Paresh
Barua's tone. I say no. He said he also wanted peace.
Do you think like the NSCN, there are possibilities of a similar
cease-fire in Assam?
I think there'll be differences... Sovereignty is not negotiable,
that too in a third country. First they should decide
amongst themselves.
What are the problems affecting Assam today?
Assam is nearer to Hanoi than Delhi. Its geographical isolation
and lack of leadership from the East has not brought unhappiness.
There has been a constant and intentional neglect. Assamese have
had to fight for a bridge over the Brahmaputra... it took an
attack from China for a railway track, it was laid the very next
day. The broad gauge has not been done yet. Tea and oil have not
been respected.
Assam has Nepalese, Bengalis, Assamese. The administrative neglect
since 1947 has made this generation angry. I asked a tribal friend
of mine, who is a vice-chancellor why did they form Meghalaya.
He said it was to protect his culture. I then asked how the situation
had changed since and he replied, "Dada, my mother has learnt
her own lullaby." So it's not true that if you isolate yourself
you can keep your culture alive.
In 1978 they were very angry. They were questioning things that
were not happening. In the 1990s the controversies have gone completely
haywire. If they don't meet and talk, in about 15 years the North-East
will be in darkness.
'The negligence has been so long that people have lost all faith'
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