Dr Hazarika’s mortal remains arriving today
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Nov 6 – The mortal remains of the legendary Dr Bhupen Hazarika are expected to reach the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport around 11-40 am tomorrow.
Dr Hazarika’s body would be brought to Guwahati in a Jet Airways flight which is scheduled to take off from Mumbai around 6-45 am.
“Following brief stops of two minutes at Dharapur and then followed by Gauhati University, Maligaon, Sonaram High School Field near the Santipur-Bharalumukh intersection and Dighalipukhuri, his last remains will be taken to his Nizarapar residence,” Ashutosh Agnihotri, Deputy Commissioner (Metro) told The Assam Tribune.
The body would be kept at his Nizarapar residence for a couple of hours for the family members to pay tributes after which it will be brought to the Judges’ Field for his fans to pay their last respect to the icon, who breathed his last on Saturday. The body would be kept at the Judges’ Field till Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, preparations are on in the capital city to receive Dr Hazarika’s body and the State Government has started construction work of a large auditorium at the Judges’ Field to accommodate a large number of people, who are expected to turn up from across the country to pay their tributes.
District administration sources confirmed that there would be only one entry point near the Gauhati Town Club end while the exit point will be through the gate near the Gauhati High Court so that the movement of mourners does not hinder the proceedings.
Special medical units will be in placed at the venue while the entire artificially constructed auditorium will be air-conditioned.
Police administration has also chalked out a detailed plan to avert any kind of untoward incident. Additional manpower is being deployed for the purpose.
With just two days left for the cremation, the administration, since Sunday morning, is scouting for suitable locations where the legend can be laid to rest.
Earlier today in Mumbai, Dr Hazarika’s body was brought out from the morgue of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambai Hospital around 4 pm for an hour for the people to pay their last tributes.
Hundreds of people including actress and wife of Anil Ambani, Tina Ambani, filmmaker Jahnu Barua, Assam Minister Pranati Phukan, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and singer Ila Arun, turned up and paid their homage.
The Maharashtra Government also accorded State honour to the Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner.
Family sources informed that Dr Hazarika’s son Tej Hazarika would reach Guwahati tomorrow. Dr Hazarika’s wife Priyambada Patel, however, would not be able to make it for the funeral as she recently had knee replacement.
Source: Assam Tribune
Legendary Bhupen Hazarika passes away
GUWAHATI, Nov 5 – Legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika is no more. Death snatched him away around 4-35 pm today at the Mumbai-based Dhirubhai Kokilaben Ambani Hospital. The hospital authorities formally declared his death around 4-37 pm. According to doctors attending on him, Dr Hazarika passed away due to cardiac failure. He was admitted to the hospital on June 29 last following breathing problems.
The body would be brought to Guwahati after arrangements by the State Government for the last rites are finalised. However, Dr Hazarika’s body would be taken to his Mumbai residence before being flown to Guwahati for the last rites.
During his last hours, his sister-in-law and artiste Monisha Hazarika, writer Anuradha Sarma Pujari and her husband Pabitra Pujari, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi and a host of relatives and fans were there by his side.
Maharashta Chief Minister is expected to pay his last respect to Dr Hazarika at the hospital this evening itself. Renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar has also conveyed her condolence to the bereaved family members over phone.
Fans gathered at the Nizarapar (Guwahati) family residence of the Hazarikas to sympathise with the family members.
Hazarika’s health deteriorated on October 23, after he developed pneumonia. He had to undergo a minor surgery whereby doctors placed a food pipe into his system.
The balladeer, who composed his own lyrics and music, last lent his voice to the film Gandhi To Hitler, where he sang Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan ‘Vaishnav jan’.
Hazarika was regarded as one of the greatest living cultural communicators of South Asia. He had been a poet, journalist, singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker and writer.
The Padma Bhushan awardee had celebrated his birthday this year in the ICU of the hospital on September 8 when he cut a cake and fans sang his favourite numbers.
Source: Assam Tribune
Halliwell’s romantic holiday ends with bust-up
Indo-Asian News Service Tuesday, July 06, 2010 (London)
Singer Geri Halliwell’s romantic holiday with aristocrat beau Henry Beckwith turned sour after she caught him ogling a scantily clad lady.
The couple were walking hand in hand before Beckwith craned his neck to take a second look at a young woman who emerged from a black Ferrari in hotpants and a bikini top.
Halliwell lost her cool. She shouted at him, waved her arms in the air and even pushed him away from her.
“Geri was absolutely fuming. She was shouting at him and telling him what for,” dailymail.co.uk quoted a witness as saying.
“Clearly, she was not happy about his wandering eye. As soon as she clocked him, she turned around herself to see what he was looking at and then she twigged,” the onlooker continued.
Following the bust-up, Geri and Henri went to travel in their yacht. “Geri apparently was still in her bad mood as she gave Henry a wide berth and sat at the opposite end of the boat to him,” the witness added.
Source: NDTV
Lily Allen shopping for future daughter
Press Trust of India Tuesday, July 06, 2010 (London)
Singer Lily Allen says she wants to pass on timeless things to her future daughter and therefore has changed her priorities for shopping.
The Not Fair singer who has openly mentioned of her desire to have a baby with boyfriend Sam Cooper says while shopping she wants to buy classic and designer pieces that will stand the test of time and could be handed to any daughters she might have, Contactmusic reported.
“When I’m buying expensive things I tend to think, ‘Yep, that’s something timeless that I can give to my daughter’,” Allen said.
The singer is also planning to open a rental fashion store next month, which she hopes will appeal to those who can’t afford expensive outfits.
The rental store to be opened with her sister, called ‘Lucy In Disguise’ will host expensive and designer clothings. Allen will also donate clothes to the swap shop which she says will discourage the throw-away shopping culture.
“It’s not ethical to do that, so I’m quite happy to turn it into a business and see other people having enjoyment out of it,” Allen said.
Allen also gave advice to those wanting to look stylis always wear high heels
no matter how uncomfortable they are.
“One piece of advice I have is about shoes. If they don’t hurt, they don’t look good,” Allen said.
Source: NDTV
George Michael British pop singer arrested after car crash
Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, July 07, 2010
British pop singer George Michael has been arrested after crashing his car into a photo shop in North London, it was reported Tuesday.
The 47-year-old former Wham! star was being held on suspicion of being unfit to drive after the alleged incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police confirmed that a man in his 40s had been arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive after a vehicle was “in collision with a building”.
He was freed on bail until mid-August pending further inquiries, police said.
Michael was banned from driving for two years in 2007 and sentenced to 100 hours community service after being found slumped at the wheel of his stationary Mercedes at a road junction in north London in October 2006.
Source: NDTV
Rapper Marion Knight wanted by police
Press Trust of India Thursday, July 08, 2010 (Los Angeles)
Hip-hop mogul Marion ‘Suge’ Knight is wanted by police after allegedly skipping a court hearing last week.
The former Death Row Records boss was due to appear in court in Los Angeles in relation to a charge of driving on a suspended licence, according to court documents obtained by celebrity website TMZ.com. The website reports Knight never showed up for the hearing and is now facing arrest.
It is the latest in a long line of legal problems the star has faced in recent months, Knight was arrested in May on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and late last month he was given a restraining order after an associate alleged Knight had threatened him.
Source: NDTV
Shakira to close World Cup
Indo-Asian News Service Thursday, July 08, 2010 (London)
Colombian singer Shakira will close the 2010 soccer World Cup by performing the official anthem Waka Waka – This Time For Africa.
She kicked off the tournament last month singing the track with local group FreshlyGround. She will close the event in similar way.
However, organizers promise that Sunday night’s celebrations will be a spectacle to watch.
“(It will be) more youthful and a bit more technologically advanced (with) nice lighting effects and special effects,” starpulse.com quoted Jermaine Craig, spokesman for the South African organsing committee, as saying.
Source: NDTV
Beyonce Knowles escapes car crash
Press Trust of India Friday, July 09, 2010 (London)
Pop star Beyonce Knowles narrowly escaped serious injury after her car door was ripped off by a taxi as she stepped onto a busy London street.
The Crazy in Love singer opened the door of her Mercedes after deciding to pop into top store Harrods en route to a restaurant in the UK capital’s Knightsbridge area, The Sun online reported.
Shoppers looked on in horror as the taxi collided with the car’s door, ripping it off its hinges and missing Beyonce by just a matter of centimetres.
The singer, who was travelling with her hip-hop mogul husband Jay-Z, looked visibly shaken after the incident.
“It was terrifying to watch. It all happened so quickly, the taxi came out of nowhere,” a source said.
“She seemed very shaken and was lucky to be alive. A couple of seconds difference and God knows what could have happened,” the source added.
Beyonce, 28, and Jay-Z, 40, were on their way to a meal at Japanese eatery Zuma when the singer decided to make her impromptu stop.
After the accident, the couple were forced to leave the damaged car and were sent a replacement to take them to the restaurant.
She was later seen looking happy and relaxed after leaving Zuma with Jay-Z.
Source: NDTV
Sonu Niigaam to attend Asian awards in UK
Press Trust of India Saturday, July 10, 2010 (London)
Singer Sonu Niigaam is all set to lend some Bollywood glamour to the upcoming Asian Awards in UK on October 26.
The Chiggy Wiggy hitmaker will be one among the many well-known faces gracing the event.
“We are so thrilled Sonu Niigaam will be leading our entertainment. His pre- eminence as a popular Indian entertainer demonstrates the high quality of this great and unforgettable evening,” said Caroline Jackson Levy, managing director of UBM Awards, in a statement to Asianet.
“Guests at this prestigious gala ceremony will witness the honouring of individuals in eleven categories including business, philanthropy, cinema, music and sport,” she added.
The Asian Awards, in partnership with Lebara, honour achievement and excellence by individuals born in or with direct family origin from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Winners of the Asian Awards will be selected by independent judges chaired by baroness Verma of Leicester, a Government Spokesperson in the House of Lords.
Source: NDTV
Carrie Underwood to tie the knot?
Press Trust of India Saturday, July 10, 2010 (New York)
Country music star Carrie Underwood is reportedly all set to walk down the aisle with ice hockey player Mike Fisher, in a secret ceremony.
The 23-year-old singer, who has been dating the sports star since 2008, is said to be keeping the location of the nuptials under wraps from even the guests until the very last minute, New York Post reported.
“Carrie wants to keep the wedding small and secret. She originally wanted up to $ 2 million for the photo rights, but she’s now believed to have struck a deal with a weekly magazine,” a source said.
The Jesus, Take The Wheel hitmaker, who got engaged last December, has told guests to go to an airport in a southern city in the US, where they will then be taken to the top secret wedding site by a private jet or limousine.
Source: NDTV
