As part of the national celebrations of the legacy of the legendary musician, Arunachal Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein announced that the state will hold a state-level program at Roing in the Lower Dibang Valley district on September 26 to mark the centennial of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s birth. Mein, who attended the core committee meeting on the centenary celebrations in Guwahati on Thursday, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at the commemorative ceremony in Assam on September 13. The meeting was led by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In a post on X, Mein stated, “The Chief Minister went over the program in detail and emphasized the need for collective efforts to make the event truly memorable.” In keeping with this, the Arunachal Pradesh government has also taken action to honor Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s legacy. On September 26, 2025, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth in Roing,” the deputy chief minister wrote on social media.
Hazarika, popularly referred to as the “Sudhakantha,” was born in Sadiya, Assam, on September 8, 1926, and died in Mumbai on November 5, 2011. As a singer, poet, composer, filmmaker, and political theorist, Hazarika gained recognition both domestically and abroad for his works that emphasized social justice, communal peace, and humanism. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian accolade, in 2019. Hazarika had a close relationship with Arunachal Pradesh, where he spent some of his early years penning emotional songs inspired by the Idu Mishmi community and the natural beauty of the Dibang Valley.
His works in Arunachali languages contributed to the state’s culture becoming more well-known across the country. According to the state government, Roing in the Lower Dibang Valley was selected as the centennial site to honor this enduring connection. The union finance ministry announced in a notification that a unique commemorative coin worth?100 will be released in Hazarika’s honor as part of the centennial celebrations. The coin will be round, 44 millimeters in diameter, and have 200 serrations. It will be composed of 99.9 percent pure silver.
In addition to the rupee symbol and the number “100,” the coin’s obverse side will be inscribed with the words “Satyameva Jayate” underneath the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar. The words “Bharat” in Devanagari script will be on the left, and “India” in English will be on the right.
