GUWAHATI: The legend of Tokari Geet, Umakanta Bairagi passed away at the age of 80 at his residence in Hengrabari on Wednesday morning.
According to reports in the media, Umakanta was suffering from prolonged illness and he breathed his last at 7:10 AM today.
He was a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Born in the year 1942 in Dibrugarh, Umakanta has received several prestigious awards including Pratima Pandey Award and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Sanghati Award. In 1971, he was conferred with the title of Bairagi by Dibrugarh Radio Station.
Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to put out,” I am saddened by the news of the passing away of Umakant Bairagidev, a great personality of Assam's folk-culture world. The demise of Bairagidev, who captivated thousands of people with inimitable creations by enriching the repository of tokari songs, an integral part of Assam's colorful art and culture, is an irreparable loss to the cultural and social sector of the state. I pray for eternal peace of his departed soul and convey our deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”
অসমৰ লোক-সংস্কৃতি জগতৰ বৰেণ্য ব্যক্তিসত্তা পৰম শ্ৰদ্ধাৰ উমাকান্ত বৈৰাগীদেৱৰ পৰলোকপ্ৰাপ্তিৰ খবৰটিয়ে মোক মৰ্মাহত কৰি তুলিছে। অসমৰ বৰ্ণিল কলা-সংস্কৃতিৰ অভিন্ন অংগ টোকাৰী গীতৰ ভঁৰাল চহকী কৰি অনবদ্য সৃষ্টিৰাজিৰে সহস্ৰজনক মোহাচ্ছন্ন কৰা বৈৰাগীদেৱৰ বিয়োগ ৰাজ্যৰ সাংস্কৃতিক আৰু সামাজিক… pic.twitter.com/0RK0I9ulb4
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 26, 2023
