Gorkhas to calll vadgawley Gorkha cap as ‘Bhupen Da Gorkha Topi’

In a significant move to keep the memories of Dr. Bhupen Hazrika alive among his admirers, the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) the apex organization of Gorkha youths and students of Assam appeals the Indian Gorkha population and across the globe to call the black coloured embossed spotted Vadgawley Gorkha hat worn by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika for life time as ‘Bhupen Da Gorkha Topi’ henceforth to pay true homage and tribute to the legend who for lifetime wore this particular cap on head top. In a press release issued by Nanda Kirati Dewan information and publicity secretary of AAGSU said , ‘Gorkhas in Assam henceforth will call black coloured embossed spotted Vadgawley Gorkha hat worn by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika for life time which created a unique identity of the music maestro as ‘BhupenDa Gorkha Topi’. On Tuesday AAGSU gen secy Keshab Sharma and central executive member Kamal Pradhan paid floral tribute to the bard along with lakhs of Gorkhalis from across Assam. Later in the early evening Nanda Kirati Dewan, Information and Publicity Secretary of AAGSU met Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s son Tez Hazarika, brother Samar Hazarika and others and extended condolence message for and on behalf of the Gorkhas of Assam and presented one Vadgawley Gorkha cap with crossed Khukhuri on it that the legend worn till his last breath and a Gorkhali khada (a traditional scarf that is taken in neck). Dewan requested Mr. Sandeep Hazarika Dr. Hazarika’s nephew to preserve the traditional Vadgawley Gorkha hat that the legend had worn since mid sixties that possibly must have been presented to him by a Gorkhali friend. Dr. Hazarika’s family assured of preserving the hat in the museum. Reiterating utmost need to preserve all things used by Dr. Hazariaka, Dewan further added that AAGSU will relentlessly pressurize the state government for preserving the vadgawley Gorkha cap in a scientific way so that his admirers can feel his essence of love for the Gorkha community of the world.

Kamal Pradhan, Central Executive Member of AAGSU, said that Late Dr Hazarika was very closely associated with the Gorkhas since his birth in 1926, at Sadiya in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam and grew up in Tezpur in today’s Sonitpur dist. both Gorkha populated region of Assam. He hugely adrored the Gorkhas and their tradition and culture so always wore the vadgawley ‘Gorkha Cap’ through out his life and sang songs Kopili Noir parat Gorkha Gaburu Joni.... on seeing a Gorkha damsel fetching water in clay pots on the bank of Kopili river in Assam.” Pradhan also made a humble appeal to Gorkhas of the state and nation to frame a photo of Bhupen Da and hang it in the wall of drawing room.

On the other hand AAGSU yesterday decided to take the pious ash remains of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika to Gorkhaland Terretorial Administration region and finally immerse Teesta, and preserve it atop of Tiger Hills and Mount Kachenjunga along with Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, Assam Gorkha Sammellan, Nepali Sahitya Parishad Assam and Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha besides AAGSU district committees will immerse the pious ashes of the legend in all major river of Assam after allowing its population to pay their tribute to legendry and iconic music maestro Maha Manab Asom Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. This decision was taken by central core committee informed Keshab Sharma General Secretary of AAGSU in a statement at Dhudnoi, Goalpara after meeting Asom Sahitya Sabha president Rongbong Terang and gen secy Dr. Parmananda Rajbonshi.