Zubeen Garg, born Zubeen Borthakur on 18 November 1972 in Tura, Meghalaya, was more than a singer. He was a cultural force from Assam actor, composer, filmmaker whose voice reached across regional lines. His sudden passing on 19 September 2025 in Singapore has stirred mourning, reflection, and serious questions.
He belonged to a deeply artistic family his father Mohini Mohon Borthakur wrote poetry and lyrics, his mother Ily Borthakur was a singer. He lost his sister Jonkey in 2002, a blow that affected him deeply. Though he enrolled in B. Borooah College for science, his true calling was music. He released his first Assamese album Anamika in 1992 and went on to sing in over forty languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, and many tribal dialects. The song Ya Ali (Bollywood, 2006) made him a household name across India. Alongside singing, he acted in and directed Assamese films, always pushing to expand his reach without leaving his roots.
In recent days, Zubeen Garg name has dominated headlines not just because of his death but due to questions around how it happened. He was aboard a chartered yacht near Lazarus Island, Singapore, with a group of sixteen people when tragedy struck. He first dived into the water wearing a life jacket, returned, removed it, and dived again. It was during this second dive without a life jacket that something went wrong. Efforts from his team, bystanders, and Singapore Coast Guard followed immediately. He was taken to a hospital, but did not survive. Fans and Assam alike are now demanding answers: Was it safe for him to swim under those conditions? Did those close to him know about any underlying health issues? Were the event organisers and his management team responsible in allowing someone in his condition to take that risk?
The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature degree on Zubeen in 2024, recognizing both his artistic contributions and cultural impact. He married designer Garima Saikia Garg in 2002. Offstage, he spoke out about identity, social responsibility, and stood up for causes in Assam from flood relief to public health.
On 19 September 2025, the world lost him. He was 52. His body is being flown back to Assam, and his fans await not just mourning, but accountability. For Assam and the Northeast, Zubeen Garg represented what many oscillate between hope and reality: that someone rooted in regional identity can reach the national stage, that art can carry both pride and responsibility. His music lives on. His legacy demands honesty.
