Sudakshina Sarma

Sudakshina Sarma, ; ; 8 August 1934 – 3 July 2023) was an Indian Assamese language singer and musician. In a career spanning over seven decades, Sarma recorded songs in a variety of genres across Assamese music spanning both classical and modern including Borgeet, Kamrupi Lokgeet, and Goalpariya Lokogeet. She also popularized Jyoti Sangeet, songs written by Assamese writer and lyricist Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and also Rabindra Sangeet.

Sarma received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2002 for her contributions to Assamese music.

Early life Sarma was born Nirupama Hazarika, in the Bharalumukh neighborhood of Guwahati to Shantipriya and Neelakantha Hazarika in a family of ten children, where she was fourth. Her elder brother, Bhupen Hazarika and younger brother, Jayanta Hazarika were also musicians. She was given the nickname Queen in her childhood, and was commonly referred to as Queenie Hazarika during her musical career.

Sarma completed her schooling from Pan Bazaar high school and later studied at the Handique Girls College.

Her older brother, Bhupendra, greatly influenced her artistic growth, and exposed her to various Assamese cultural icons such as Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, and Phani Sarma among others.

Career Sarma's career started when she was 10, when she traveled to Kolkata to record two songs composed by Bishnu Prasad Rabha. That same year, she went on to record two more songs, including one written by her father, that would become hits. As a playback singer, Sarma recorded songs for Assamese movies including Maniram Dewan, Chikmik Bijuli, Pargaat, Abooj Bedona, and Hepah.

Sarma received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2002, an award that she shared with her husband, for her contributions to Assamese music and Jyoti Sangeet. She was undergoing treatment for pneumonia at the time of her death. Sarma had partnered with Ellora Vigyan Mancha, an Assamese NGO, to have her organs donated after her death.