In the quaint village of Kamarkuchi near Guwahati, where Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg was laid to rest with full state honors on September 23, a young volunteer cautiously spoke with a local TV journalist last Sunday.
His voice, a mix of fatigue and respect, shook as prayers resonated at the garland-adorned cremation site, decorated with ‘gamosas’ (traditional Assamese cloth) and images of Zubeen, whose sudden passing at 52 on September 19 left his homeland in mourning.
With sweat glistening on his forehead, the young volunteer expressed his commitment to serve visitors at the cremation site indefinitely. “I came voluntarily from Nagaon,” he whispered.
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Among the attendees was a group of female volunteers who continued to clap and sing, as if the late singer had become a deity.
Nearby, hundreds of fans sang Zubeen’s classic, Mayabini Ratir Bukut, accompanied by a couple of musicians who had set up temporarily.
A month after Zubeen’s tragic drowning in Singapore, thousands still visit Kamarkuchi daily, transforming the cremation site into a pilgrimage destination.
These remarkable scenes, following the death of a singer known outside Assam mainly for one Bollywood hit, ‘Ya Ali,’ have drawn attention from global media, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, and The Independent, to explore this collective sorrow.
In terms of sheer turnout, only Michael Jackson’s final journey surpassed the 1.5 million people who thronged Guwahati streets as Zubeen’s body was brought from the airport.
“We’ve never seen a star mourned for so long,” said Sunita Bhuyan, a distinguished Mumbai-based violinist, to Khaleej Times.
More than a singer
Zubeen may not have been as globally renowned as Michael Jackson, but his music made him the heartbeat of Assam. As a singer, songwriter, and composer, his work defined genres and spoke to the soul of his people.
Zubeen was also a bold celebrity who addressed socio-political issues, defied insurgent threats, donated his earnings to the needy, played in charity matches for flood relief, protested against unsustainable projects, and turned his home into a Covid center.
A Muslim cleric recalled how Zubeen, born into a Hindu Brahmin family, once donated 700,000 rupees from a concert to an orphan Madrasa.
In a divided world, Zubeen’s humanity has brought people of all faiths together to honor this unique artist.
Politics after the tragedy
Even as grief united people, politics re-emerged. The state BJP government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma clashed with opposition leaders over the investigation into Zubeen’s death in Singapore.
Zubeen was to perform at the Northeast India Festival in Singapore but tragically died during a yacht party. Despite his history of seizures and medical advice to avoid water, he drowned after jumping in to swim with his manager and band member.
While Singapore police ruled out foul play, Assam’s public demanded a thorough investigation, blaming his manager and the festival’s chief organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta, for negligence.
Now, the investigation has sparked political tensions as the government and opposition accuse each other of using Zubeen’s death for political gain ahead of upcoming elections.
Media leaks
Pressure mounts for justice from the public and Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg. The Assam government faces scrutiny as opposition awaits any missteps before the elections.
“The situation is worsened by unverified news leaks from the SIT office, which is not allowed,” said Junmoni Devi Khaund, a senior advocate at Guwahati High Court to Khaleej Times.
Television journalist Nitumoni Saikia criticized both government mishandling and opposition opportunism.
“These political games are shameful. Zubeen transcended politics, and his death shouldn’t be a political battleground,” Saikia told Khaleej Times.
Rising in the dark
In the 1990s, with India opening its markets, Sachin Tendulkar’s cricketing rise contrasted Assam’s struggles with violent separatism. Amidst this, Zubeen emerged with a unique music style blending Western and traditional sounds.
Despite threats from the United Liberation Front of Assam, Zubeen’s music offered hope and mocked insurgent violence. His music became a symbol of Assamese pride.
In the pantheon of legends
Recently, Pakistani band Khudgarz paid tribute to Zubeen, and Indian composer Vishal Dadlani admitted Bollywood underestimated his talent.
Zubeen’s colleague Sasanka Samir shared that Zubeen was never fazed by Bollywood’s neglect, focusing instead on reviving Assamese cinema and music.
Violinist Sunita Bhuyan admired Zubeen’s musical genius, comparing him to greats like Ravi Shankar.
A true human being
Zubeen’s music echoed through the streets of his hometown Jorhat, capturing the spirit of Assamese hopes. Journalist Nip Kumar Baruah lamented his absence at future festivals.
Singer Suraj Verma, who recently paid tribute to Zubeen, described him as a true artist whose music transcended platforms like Bollywood.
Zubeen’s revolutionary cultural impact in Assam made him more than an artist; he was a true human being.
