A month after the sudden death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore, the people of Assam continue to grieve, their sorrow mingled with unanswered questions about the singer’s final moments.
From Sonapur to Kahilipara, thousands gathered on Saturday to pay homage to the man whose songs defined generations of Assamese identity. At Garg’s cremation site in Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati, crowds arrived from across districts, laying ‘gamosas’ adorned with his lyrics, lighting earthen lamps and raising emotional slogans, “Joi Zubeen” and “Justice for Zubeen.”
Garg, who died on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore, remains deeply etched in the state’s cultural consciousness. His widow, Garima, speaking to reporters outside the late singer’s cherished studio at Zoo Road, said the family and the people of Assam were still waiting for the truth to emerge.
“The studio was dear to him. Since the initial rituals were performed at our residence and Jorhat, we decided to perform the Vedic rituals on completion of one month here,” she said. “We have faith in the investigation. Whom do we trust if not our own legal system? Zubeen was a straight-forward person and we want straight-forward investigation. We are all waiting peacefully to know what happened. People of Assam are waiting to know what happened in his last moments.”
A ten-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police’s CID is probing the case. So far, seven persons have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Singapore Police are also conducting a parallel probe, and a team of officers from Assam is set to visit the Southeast Asian nation to collaborate with their counterparts.
Also read: Singapore police rule out foul play in Zubeen Garg death
Vedic rituals marking one month of Garg’s death were held at his studio in Zoo Road, where his father, wife, sister, and close associates joined in prayer. The atmosphere was heavy with emotion as fans filled the lane outside, singing his compositions in hushed reverence.
Italian opera singer Gioconda Vessichelli, who had collaborated with Garg for his yet-to-be-released film, travelled to Guwahati to offer her respects. “Zubeen da used to say that she (Garima) is his tigress, who stood by him in good and bad times. And he was right,” Vessichelli said. “There is so much love in the family. I feel Zubeen da is here. I already feel the gods have done justice to Zubeen Garg.”
From Kamrup to West Karbi Anglong, admirers arrived in private cars and buses, carrying photographs, incense sticks and offerings. “We booked two buses and are a group of over 100 people. We wanted to be here with Zubeen da and pay our homage,” said a woman from Boko in Kamrup district. Another group of women from West Karbi Anglong arrived carrying a framed photograph of the singer as their mark of respect.
The day-long tribute also featured ‘Naam’ (Vaishnavite prayer songs) and musical performances inspired by Garg’s timeless compositions. As the chants and melodies filled the air, the collective sentiment was one of both reverence and restlessness — a yearning for closure in the mystery that still surrounds his death.
For many in Assam, Zubeen Garg remains not just a singer, but a voice of the state’s soul. A month on, that voice may have fallen silent, yet its echo refuses to fade.
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