Zubeen Garg – a personal tribute

The first time I heard Zubeen Garg’s name was last week on Ravish Kumar's podcast.

- SATISH KUMAR SHARMA

The coverage of Zubeen’s passing away left me speechless. Then, shock, disbelief, grief and self-indignation followed in that order. Shock at the tragedy, disbelief that a singer could be so popular and grief because I could empathize with the millions of Zubeen’s fans whose spontaneous outpouring of love and sorrow left one teary eyed. I felt self-indignation thinking how could I miss him and his music? It was an inexcusable omission for one who delights in exploring the music of diverse lands and cultures.

Zubeen’s departure opened a floodgate of memories of fourteen months that I had spent in Shillong and Assam in 1981-82 with friends, away from home during which I gained from life what I had missed at not having been a hosteller. I recalled the wonderful Christmas of Shillong and my introduction to western music. I recalled our neighbours - a group of Naga students who played Abbey Road everyday first thing in the morning on trend with the Beatles’ revival after John Lennon’s then recent assassination. The album became a favourite.