GUWAHATI: Social, cultural and educational organisation Sarhad has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to name Train Nos. 15647/15648 Mumbai-Guwahati Express as the “Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Express”.
Sarhad founder-president Sanjay Nahar made the appeal in a letter to the Prime Minister dated August 22, 2026, citing the birth centenary year of legendary musician and cultural figure Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
The organisation said it had been seeking the renaming of the train since 2015, highlighting Hazarika’s role in strengthening cultural ties between Mumbai, Guwahati and the Northeast.
Sarhad said Hazarika had been associated with several initiatives aimed at using music to reduce violence and strengthen connections between communities. It said it continued such initiatives with the consent of his family after his death.
The organisation said naming the train after Hazarika during his birth centenary year would recognise his contribution and carry significance for people across the Northeast.
Sarhad also enclosed its April 10, 2015 letter to then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, which had proposed naming Train Nos. 15617/15618 Naharlagun-Guwahati Intercity Express as the “Lummer Dai Sampriti Express” in recognition of Arunachal Pradesh’s first recognised Assamese-language author and his contribution to Assam-Arunachal ties.
The organisation urged the Prime Minister to initiate the renaming of the Mumbai-Guwahati Express as the “Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Express”.
