[1]The Assam government on Tuesday decided to postpone the funeral of legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika following thousands of men, women and children making an unending beeline to pay their last respect at Judges Field where his body remains in a glass cubical since Tuesday.
Assam CM Tarun Gogoi who himself was present at Judges Field told reporters, “Considering the fact that people in their thousands are still lining up to pay their last respects, we in consultation with family members decided to postpone his funeral on Tuesday.”
According to official announcement, instead of 2 pm on Tuesday, the funeral procession will now begin at 6 am on Wednesday and the last rites would be performed at 7 am at Guwahati University campus, on the bank of Brahmaputra.
Music maestro Hazarika’s only son, Tez Bhupen Hazarika arrived from New York, USA, on Tuesday to perform the last rites of his father.
“I am moved by the outpour of love for my father by the people of Assam, the country and the world,” said the son of music maestro adding, “Thank you very much for the love and support shown to my father and the family during our hour of grief. I am very touched.”
He said that grand son of the music maestro Akash Tez would also be arriving later. However, Bhupen Hazarika’s estranged wife Priyamvada Patel, now settled in Canada, is not coming due to some health reason.
The scene on Wednesday was no different from Monday and Tuesday when a sea of humanity paid rich tributes to the music legend Bhupen Hazarika as the hearse carrying his coffin took close to seven hours to traverse a distance of 25-30 km from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati to his ancestral home in the city.
There was a stampede like situation at the Judges Field on Tuesday morning as close to 2,000 people jumped the barricade and entered the playground through a gate meant for VIPs.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/09hazarikajpgcropdisplayjpg-120