Guwahati, Sept 23: Assam has not slept for four nights. From Sadiya to Dhubri, in every marketplace and village square, candles burn beside garlanded portraits of Zubeen Garg — the state’s beloved cultural icon. Mayabini echoed across lanes and courtyards as people sang in unison, their voices trembling but unbroken. Even some madrasas, setting aside tradition, played his songs in tribute.
Zubeen’s passing has bound Assam in collective mourning rarely witnessed in India. Shops remained shuttered, streets fell silent, yet the air was filled with his music — an entire state suspended in grief.
Born Zubeen Borthakur on November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya, he went on to become one of the most influential voices of Assam and the Northeast. A singer–songwriter, composer, actor, and philanthropist, he created a legacy that transcended borders and languages.
He was the son of Mohini Mohon Borthakur, a magistrate, lyricist, and poet who wrote under the pen name Kapil Thakur, and late Ily Borthakur, herself a singer. Named after the world-renowned composer Zubin Mehta, he later adopted the stage surname “Garg,” derived from his gotra, in the 1990s.
The atmosphere was heavy with grief as priests chanted verses from the Bhagavad Gita, their slokas echoing through the cremation ground. Many in the crowd broke into tears as the rituals unfolded. A 21-gun salute and full state honours were accorded to the singer, underlining his stature as one of Assam’s greatest cultural figures.
A People’s Artist
What explains this extraordinary farewell? Perhaps it is that Zubeen was never merely a singer. He was a people’s artist — one who sang of land, love, and struggle, who never left Assam for Mumbai’s glamour, who lived and breathed for his people.
“Over the past few days many from outside Assam have asked: why are we crazy for Zubeen? There is no single answer — but three things stand out,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
“His music spoke directly to our emotions and embraced Assam’s diversity.
His bravado was legendary — a born rebel, unapologetic in his opinions.
But above all, he was one of the kindest and most helpful souls to walk this planet.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, present at the funeral, echoed the sentiment: “Though he is no more, his voice will live forever in our hearts.”
A Farewell in Song
On Tuesday, as flames rose from his pyre, the crowd did not weep in silence. Instead, they sang — every voice carrying Zubeen’s words back to the sky. “In our lifetime, we have never seen such a farewell,” journalist Ravish Kumar observed. “The people sang with every flame of his funeral. They did not just bid him goodbye; they enshrined him in their hearts forever.”
Kumar wrote that he had not witnessed such an outpouring of grief in his career. “The people of Assam are singing Zubeen’s songs as his body is engulfed by flames. Nobody wants to talk about anything else, nobody wants to hear about anything else.”
He stressed that the mourning is not limited to Assam alone. “This grief extends to neighbouring states and even across borders. People in Bangladesh are writing, crying, mourning. What Zubeen achieved worldwide — the trust and the love he earned — was unparalleled.”
“Big leaders and actors cannot even imagine such a farewell,” one mourner remarked on social media.
Even police officers on duty broke into tears while paying their respects. Leaders admitted their own words were too small for the moment. “Assam will not see another Zubeen Garg in the next 50 years… maybe never,” Sarma said. “No one can replace him.”
A Legacy Beyond Borders
Tributes have poured in from across Northeast India and Bangladesh, a testament to how deeply Zubeen’s voice had crossed boundaries of language, culture, and geography. Social media flooded with memories and songs — not just from fans, but from those who saw in him an artist inseparable from his people.
Industries Minister Bimal Borah reminded that Zubeen often sang of freedom, of becoming mukta. “Today his wish was granted,” Borah said, “with the echoes of Mayabini reverberating in the air. But he left us in tears.”
Borah announced that the cultural affairs department has collected Zubeen’s ashes, which will be preserved with utmost care. “Since Zubeen belonged to the people of Assam, an online portal will soon be launched for any organization or institution wishing to request a portion of these sacred ashes. Based on applications, ashes will be provided as per prescribed rules. In addition, a part of the ashes will be sent to Jorhat for the construction of a second memorial for the legendary artist.”
An Immortal Voice
The truth is, Zubeen Garg has not left. His voice lingers in childhood memories, in festival nights and heartbreaks, in celebrations and silences. He remains the soundtrack of Assam’s soul.
“Farewell Zubeen! There will never be another you. We will forever keep you alive through your songs and thoughts,” Sarma said.
And as the last candles flickered under Assam’s night sky, a single truth emerged: Zubeen Garg is gone, but he will never be absent.
Also Read: From Tura to Kamarkuchi: The final chapter of Zubeen Garg’s journey
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