Hundreds of thousands mourn Zubeen Garg in Assam as state declares mourning; cremation with state honours set for Tuesday

Hundreds of thousands gathered in Guwahati on Monday to mourn Zubeen Garg, the Assamese singer-composer who drowned on Sept. 19 in Singapore while performing at a live concert. Garg, 52, was a cultural icon known for singing in more than 40 languages over a three-decade career, with the Hindi-language hit Ya Ali from the 2006 film Gangster helping propel him to national fame. Assam’s government declared three days of mourning, and Garg’s cremation is scheduled for Tuesday with state honours after a second autopsy is conducted to rule out foul play, according to the state’s chief minister.

Garg's body arrived in Guwahati on Sept. 21, drawing fans from across the region to pay their respects. The artist was more than a singer; he was a versatile performer who blended regional folk, rock and devotional styles on stage. His popularity extended beyond Assam, making him a widely recognized figure for many of the state's diaspora.

Garg’s rise began in his college days when he released his first music album, Anamika, in 1992, a chartbuster that set the template for a career defined by prolific output and wide appeal. By 2000, he expanded into cinema and directing with an Assamese film, Tumi Mor Matho Mor, cementing his status as a regional icon. His image combined trendsetting fashion with a broad musical palette, allowing him to perform at large Bihu festivals and in intimate settings alike. He could deliver rock beats as easily as regional folk tunes, and he explored spiritual sub-genres such as Borgeet and Zikir, broadening his fan base across generations and communities.

Beyond music, Garg was known for activism and outspoken stances against violence. He regularly condemned violence by separatist groups and, in 2019, played a significant role in mobilising people against a controversial new citizenship law that offered citizenship to non-Muslim religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. In 2024, Garg joined Guwahati residents protesting the government’s plan to cut trees to build a new flyover. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Garg offered his apartment to the government for use as an isolation centre, a gesture that drew praise from many. His admirers say he never hesitated to speak his mind or help others, a sentiment echoed by fans who say they benefited from his generosity over the years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Garg, saying he would be remembered for his contributions to music. Garg’s fan clubs, which span cities and districts in Assam, have long organized events and charity drives, and many of those clubs are now coordinating crowds and tributes as the state bids him farewell. In parallel, government aides and family members have prepared a ceremonial cremation, with a second autopsy to confirm the safety and integrity of the process before the cremation proceeds.

As tributes pour in, Garg’s impact on Assam’s culture and popular music remains evident. He spent years building a public-facing persona that connected the state’s traditional forms with contemporary pop sensibilities, helping create a sense of shared identity during periods of social tension. His death marks the loss of a musician who became a symbol of Assam’s modern cultural landscape, a bridge between local roots and wider musical currents. The state’s three-day mourning period and the planned Tuesday cremation underscore Garg’s enduring influence and the depth of public grief across communities.

Garg’s legacy will likely endure through the songs that defined a generation and through the charitable work long associated with his public life. Fans and fellow artists describe him as fearless, generous and deeply connected to the people who supported his rise. The crowds in Guwahati stretched into the city’s streets and campuses, reflecting a cultural moment as Assam bids farewell to a figure who shaped its soundscape for more than three decades. The final chapter of Garg’s career will play out in a public ceremony that colleagues say will honor a life dedicated to music, community and a willingness to speak openly and act on principle.