Exploring colonial domination in Bhupen Hazarika’s praxis of culture
Author(s): Dhrubajyoti Saikia and Lucky Chetia
Abstract: Politics and culture are two distinct dimensions of human praxis, yet they are deeply interconnected and influence one another in complex ways. Politics is often conceived as an instrument to resist injustice and exploitation, forming an integral part of revolutionary praxis. Within this context, culture plays a crucial role, as it mobilizes people to participate in social movements and advocate for transformative change. Artists inspired by communist ideology have frequently employed culture as a means to achieve political objectives, particularly the transformation of society. Bhupen Hazarika, the celebrated people’s artist of Assam, pursued a cultural mission aimed at liberating the masses from various forms of bondage and exploitation. For him, culture was never detached from politics; rather, it was infused with revolutionary ideology, which found expression in his creative praxis. Disturbed by the turmoil and unrest brought about by British imperialism, Hazarika envisioned an independent India free from oppression and exploitation. This article seeks to examine Hazarika’s anticolonial stance through the lens of his cultural praxis.
