Veteran Assamese singer, musician, and actor Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honors on Tuesday in Kamarkuchi village on the outskirts of Guwahati. Wrapped in an Assamese gamosa, his body was taken in a flower-bedecked ambulance from the Arjun Bhogeshwar Barua Sports Complex in Guwahati to the crematorium. His elderly father, wife Garima, and other family members accompanied him on the final journey. Thousands of fans followed the ambulance, bidding him a final farewell.
Millions of fans paid tribute
On Sunday and Monday, millions of people from Assam and other states gathered at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium to pay tribute to Zubeen Garg. During the funeral, his fans in Kamarkuchi chanted “Jai Zubeen Da” and sang his famous song “Mayabini,” the same song Zubeen had repeatedly requested to be played after his death. The atmosphere was emotional, and everyone was seen in tears as they bid farewell to their beloved artist.
Presence of Political Figures and Government
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Kiren Rijiju, Pabitra Margherita, along with several state ministers and dignitaries from across the country were present at the funeral. Earlier on Tuesday, Zubeen Garg’s second post-mortem was conducted at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital in the presence of AIIMS doctors. The state government took this step following public and fan demand. It is noteworthy that the first post-mortem was conducted there on Friday after his sudden and mysterious death in Singapore, where the cause of death was stated as drowning.
Assam’s Rockstar: Zubeen Garg
Zubeen Garg was immensely popular not only in Assam but throughout Northeast India. He was not only a singer but also a lyricist, music director, actor, film producer, screenwriter, and social worker. He sang nearly 38,000 songs and was beloved by people from all walks of life. He boldly raised public issues and never bowed to pressure from any government or politician. His body arrived at Guwahati airport on Sunday, drawing a crowd of thousands, and the entire city paid tearful tributes. Zubeen Garg was truly Assam’s rockstar and a truly popular artist whose voice and personality will forever resonate in people’s hearts.
