Pune: Assamese community mourns singer Zubeen Garg’s untimely death
Pune: Assamese community mourns singer Zubeen Garg’s untimely death
Pune, September 20, 2025: The Assamese diaspora in Pune came together on Friday evening to grieve the sudden loss of iconic singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away earlier in the day in Singapore during a scuba diving session.
At a condolence meet organised by ‘Juva Sangha’ in Mohammadwadi, candles were lit and prayers offered as participants remembered Garg not only as a singer but as a voice that embodied the soul of Assam.
For many, the news was hard to process. “It is both a sad and black day for Assam. We grew up with Zubeen da’s songs in every celebration and gathering. For the first time, I wept for a singer,” said Dr Pallabh, describing Garg as the cultural heir to Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika.
Kaustubh Saikia, who hails from Guwahati, said Garg’s music formed the very threads of Assam’s cultural identity. “His voice was part of our collective memory. The void he leaves behind feels irreparable,” he said.
Teachers, artists, professionals and defence personnel shared how the late singer’s works touched their personal lives. “Though he is no longer with us physically, he will live forever through his music,” said Jina Saikia, a teacher.
For Bihu dancer and society manager Upkul Barauh, Garg’s songs were inseparable from performances. “No Bihu feels complete without his tracks. His music was woven into our traditions,” he noted.
Rajkumar Pegu, serving in the defence forces, recalled how Garg’s versatility made him beloved across the state. “He sang in every dialect of Assam and captured every heart. The last video I saw of him was from Singapore, just before his death,” he said.
