Guwahati, May 1: The Bhupen Hazarika International Foundation (BHIF) has released a German rendition of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s iconic song Manuhe Manuhor Baabe as part of the ongoing birth centenary celebrations of the legendary artist. The initiative aims to carry forward his message of humanity and universal brotherhood to a wider global audience, highlighting the timeless relevance of his work.

The German version, titled Der Mensch-für die Menschen, was translated by Dr. Binod Kumar Gogoi, a retired CSIR-NEIST scientist with expertise in European languages, with assistance from Ritimoni Gogoi, a Delhi-based German scholar, and a German national married to an Assamese woman. The rendition was performed by Ranjan Kumar Dutta, secretary of BHIF and a noted composer and All India Radio-approved lyricist. It was formally released on April 26 during the concluding session of the two-day ‘Bhupendra Mel’ organized by BHIF.

Founded in 2012 by Tej Hazarika, son of the maestro, BHIF has worked to preserve and promote Dr. Hazarika’s legacy. Dutta emphasized that the song’s universal appeal lies in its values of unity and compassion, which transcend boundaries and cultures. The release ceremony was attended by Shobha Hazarika, sister-in-law of the artist, admirer Surya Goswami, and singer-composer Jyotirmoy Debnath, who jointly unveiled the German version.

At the same event, another composition titled Nispondo Nakshatra (A Pale Star), penned by Dutta and composed by Shubhra Baruah, was released, reflecting on the later life of Sudhakantha. A resolution was also adopted to formally designate all of Bhupen Hazarika’s songs translated into Bengali and Hindi as Bhupendra Sangeet. The programme drew several renowned musicians, including Kamal Chandra Kataki, a long-time guitarist and associate of the legend, along with a large gathering of admirers and followers.