A pall of gloom has descended on Assam with the tragic demise of popular singer, music composer, lyricist, actor and film director, Zubeen Garg. A singing sensation and heartthrob of millions, Zubeen drowned during a sea outing in Singapore. He was on tour to perform at the North East India Festival, but before he could step on stage, he met with a tragic end on September 19, leaving legions of music fans, admirers, friends and relatives stunned and speechless. Such was his sway for more than four decades since the 1990s that the outpouring of grief has been spontaneous. Fans and admirers have been crying inconsolably, choked with emotion, as if losing not just a singer but a friend, brother, guide and philosopher.
Following his untimely demise, condolences poured in from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, other dignitaries, Bollywood actors, singers, fans, admirers and relatives. Prime Minister Modi led the nation in mourning, writing on X: “Shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music. His renditions were very popular among people across all walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
Chief Minister Sarma, paying tribute to Zubeen’s cultural legacy, wrote on X: “Assam lost one of its favourite sons. I am at a loss for words to describe what Zubeen meant for Assam. He has gone too early, this was not an age to go. Zubeen’s voice had an unmatched ability to energise people and his music spoke directly to our minds and souls. He has left a void that will never be filled. Our future generations will remember him as a stalwart of Assam’s culture, and his works will inspire many more talented artists in the years to come. Beyond his music, his connection with people and passion for helping them will always be remembered. I will greatly cherish all my interactions with him. That magical voice has forever gone silent. Tragic beyond words! I grieve with my fellow citizens on the passing away of Zubeen. Rest well, Zubeen! You will always be Assam’s favourite rockstar.”
Zubeen was not only a singer par excellence but also a warm, affable soul who endeared himself to all. Like many, I too had interactions with him during his live concerts in Guwahati, Delhi and elsewhere. Every time I was drawn closer to him, he greeted everyone with a smile, shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, and never refused a selfie or autograph.
A three-day state mourning has been declared from September 20-22 as a mark of respect to the cultural icon. The Government of Assam is arranging to keep the singer’s mortal remains at Sarusajai Sports Complex for a day, so the public can pay their last respects. The decision on where his last rites will be performed, Guwahati or Jorhat, where he grew up and began his musical journey, is yet to be taken.
Born on November 18, 1972 at Tura in Meghalaya, Zubeen hailed from a musical family. His father, Mohini Mohon Borthakur, is a lyricist and poet, while his late mother, Ily Borthakur, was a singer. His younger sister, Jongki Borthakur, an actress and singer, tragically died in a car accident in 2002. In her memory, Zubeen dedicated the album ‘Xixhu’ that same year. Zubeen’s passion for music was so deep that he dropped out of his final B.Sc Chemistry examination. Trained by his mother from the age of three, he later learned tabla under Pandit Robin Banerjee for 11 years, and Assamese folk music from Guru Ramani Rai. He began composing songs in school and mastered more than a dozen instruments, including guitar, tabla, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard and percussion.
His professional break came in 1992 when he won a gold medal for Western solo performance in a youth festival. Later that year, his debut Assamese album ‘Anamika’ was released, followed by many others such as ‘Xapunor Xur’ (1992), ‘Junaki Mon’ (1993), ‘Maya’ (1994), and ‘Asha’ (1995). His Bihu album ‘Ujan Piriti’ was a commercial hit. His timeless Assamese hits include ‘Mayabini’, ‘Sila Sila’, ‘Maya Mathu Maya’, ‘Rumal Rumal’, ‘Najanu Kot Tumi Thaka’, Gaane Ki Aane, ‘Endor Hobo Nuware’, ‘Tumi Janane’ and ‘Ami Jen Jantra’.
In the mid-1990s, Zubeen moved to Mumbai to pursue Bollywood, releasing his first Indipop album ‘Chandni Raat’. He sang for films like ‘Dil Se’ (1998), ‘Fiza’ (2000), ‘Kaante’ (2002), ‘Krissh 3’ (2013) and many others. His biggest breakthrough came with ‘Ya Ali’ from the film ‘Gangster’ (2006), which won him the GIFA Award for Best Playback Singer.
Apart from Assamese and Hindi, he left his mark in Bengali music, with hits like ‘O Bondhure’, ‘Lagena Bhalo’, ‘Mon Mane Na’, ‘Piya Re Piya Re’, and ‘Mon Jete Chay Shudhu’. As music director, he composed for Assamese films (Hiya Diya Niya, Mission China, Dr. Bezbaruah 2, The Slam Book), Bengali films (Sudhu Tumi, Samsara), and Hindi films (Strings – Bound by Faith, Dil Toh Deewana Hai, Homework).
In a career spanning over four decades, Zubeen recorded more than 40,000 songs in multiple languages and dialects. His music reflected life itself– happiness, sadness, loneliness, and everyday struggles. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the BFJA Award for ‘Shudhu Tumi’ (1996), GIFA Award for ‘Ya Ali’ (2006), National Award for ‘Echoes of Silence’ (2009), and multiple Assam State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards Assamese. Zubeen also acted in films like ‘Tumi Mur Matho Mur’, ‘Dinabandhu’, ‘Mon Jaai’, ‘Mission China’, ‘Kanchanjangha’, ‘Dr. Bezbaruah 2’ and others.
Beyond music and cinema, Zubeen was a philanthropist. Through his ‘Kalaguru Artiste Foundation’, he helped flood victims, orphans, slum dwellers, and even turned his home into a COVID Care Centre during the 2021 crisis. He loved animals, nurtured plants, and played football matches to raise funds for charity. He was also a vocal public figure during the anti-CAA protests in Assam. In Zubeen’s passing, Assam has lost a beloved son. The void left behind will be hard to fill. Yet, his rich legacy and evergreen songs will remain a fountainhead of inspiration for generations.
Sabir Nishat, Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Govt. of Assam
