Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tribute this morning, called Hazarika’s music timeless, noting how his compositions “transcended borders and linguistic barriers for decades.” That universality is embodied in “Bistirna Parore” (popularly known in Bangla as “Bistirno Dupaare”), the song after which the voyage is named.

It was a vivacious gathering of artistes and discussants of Assam, India and Bangladesh at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on September 7.