Guwahati: The voice that defines many generations of Assam, the melody that carries Assam’s soul has fallen silent on the saddest day of the century for Assam on September 19. For Assam it was not just a demise of a popular singer, but the fading of an entire golden era of music, love and identity. As time stood still, hearts across the state broke together, mourning the man who had become much more than an artist- he was Assam’s true heartbeat, a voice that ruled the eastern state for over three decades.
I was never close to him as most of my Guwahati based journalist colleagues are. But as a 90’ kid like lakhs others I also grew up listening to his marvellous Assamese melodies. He is none other than the music icon Zubeen Garg who left us for the heavenly abode on Friday, 19th September. Assam was amid a huge crisis of insurgency and military operations against it in the early 90s when Zubeen released his first modern Assamese song album ‘Anamika’ in 1992. The audio cassette that changed the taste of music for a generation of Assam forever. Then came the album ‘Maya’ which made the music lovers of the state crazy for the lean thin curly long hair boy in his mid twenties overnight. Within a very short period Zubeen’s voice became the melody of ‘hope’ for a generation superseded by insurgency, violence, depression and dark future. With every passing year and music albums Zubben grew as a singer, composer, music director, actor, director and most importantly an unparalleled voice of Assamese society.
The 80’ and early 90’ were a dry period for Assamese music as it was totally grasped by popular Hindi movie music. Zubeen alone stood against it. His entry to Assamese music in the early 90’ created a stiff competition to popular Hindi music in the state. By 2000 Zubeen became an integral part of Assamese society, an unmatched voice for the common people of the state. In the first decade of the 21st century, Zubeen Garg uplifted himself as a power centre which was unchallengeable within Assam. He didn’t remain merely a singer, composer or an artist. Zubeen positioned himself as the ‘Heartthrob’ of the young generation of Assam, yet distancing himself from power and politics. In our early years of journalism, Zubeen was always a source of news or rather breaking news. His smile and his fearless replies were always a treat for journalists like us.
His voice on the social issues of Assam drew the attention of crores of his young followers, compelling the politicians to care for it.
But he still remains as a true artist, a beloved singer whose every song is like an anthem for music lovers of Assam and India. Within the first 10 years of his music career, Zubeen turned Assamese music to an industry which revolves around him. In the early years of this century, Zubeen started creating a lot of Bihu albums with a challenge to the dying folk songs popular amongst the young generation. It was Zubeen’s magic which rejuvenated Bihu songs amongst the newer generation. He sang over 8 thousand Bihu songs with a modern melody mixed to it and the result was beyond imagination. Bihu now crossed the border of Assam and found its place across the globe. Not only Bihu, devotional songs like Bargeet by Guru Sankardeva, Madhabdeva, Lok Geet, Tukari Geet etc sung by Zubeen touched the hearts of music lovers in Assam. The younger generation started learning the Bihu song, dance, and folk songs while listening to the legend. He sang over 38000 songs in 40 Indian languages including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Bodo, Nepali and many more. Assamese cinema also was rejuvenated with his songs. From 1999 to 2025 Zubeen created music for dozens of Assamese movies compelling his fans to return to the big screen.
A true music legend who was always away from the material benefits, name, frame etc and who only served the music. All these followed the most loved personality of the state. As a journalist working over two decades in this region I can surely say it, you will hardly find a person in Assam who doesn’t love this man or his music. Every year in mid April, Ringali Bihu is a month-long celebration in Assam and if one says that Rongali Bihu is a celebration of Zubeen Garg on stage, it is not wrong at all. In the length and breadth of Assam people await to see and listen to Zubeen Garg in Ringali Bihu programs. Bihu will never be the same magical without Zubeen Garg.
The man who lived for the people and the people who were ready to die for the melodious voice lost the connection on 19th September. Zubeen’s demise is a loss for Assam, Assamese society and most importantly for the Assamese music. For the last three decades, Zubeen inspired generations after generation to live for people, live for nature. A voice that stood for Assam, which echoes the voice of the common people of Assam on every issue. The Assam government has declared 3 days of state mourning on his demise. CM Sarma will receive his mortal remains in Delhi when he arrives from Singapore. Back home, millions are waiting for the last view of their beloved singer.
As a gentle morning shower washed over Assam on Saturday, it felt as if nature itself was mourning alongside millions. Listening to Zubeen Garg’s timeless melodies from the 90s, memories rushed back—his songs etched deeply into our hearts, which can’t be erased by his physical absence. For those of us who walked through the turbulent 90s, his voice was not just music; it was hope, strength, and an endless source of inspiration. Even as the physical presence of Zubeen da is no longer with us, his legacy will continue to echo through every corner of Assam, guiding generations with the same warmth and resilience he gifted us. Thank you Zubeen Da for inspiring us for decades.
