Bhupen Hazarika

Bhupen Hazarika is one of the most well-known personalities from Assam, India. Born in 1926, in Sadiya, Assam, he holds an M. A. in Political Science in 1946. He holds an M.A. in Political Science from Beranes Hindu University, and a PhD in Mass Communication from the Columbia University, New York, where he came in contact with,and was greatly influenced by, Paul Robeson. He also received the Lisle Fellowship from the Chicago University, USA. He cut his first L.P. record when he was just 10 years old, and his first role as an actor was for the Assamese movie, Indramalati, made in 1939. He was involved with the Indian Peoples' Theatre Association (IPTA), and has also sporadically tried his chance at electoral politics. He won the National Award for the best film maker for "Shakuntala" (1960) "Pratidhwani"(1964), and "Loti Ghoti"(1967). He also won the National Award for best music composition in 1977 for "Chameli Memsaab". His other honors include Padma Bhushan(1977), Sangeet Natak Academy award (1987) and Dada Saheb Phalke award (1993.