A LIFE DEFINED BY ART, SHAPED BY TURBULENCE

IN death, as in life, Zubeen Garg remains one of Assam’s most powerful voices.

- PRASANTA MAZUMDAR

Revered as a musical genius, social crusader, and cultural icon, Garg’s sudden and mysterious demise in Singapore has left a void that transcends the world of music. But to understand why his death has shaken an entire state and beyond, one must understand the man whose life was deeply shaped by Assam’s turbulent history and whose art reflected its soul.

Born into a culturally rich family in Jorhat, Garg grew up during a time when Assam was reeling under political unrest. The rise of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in 1979 had ushered in a decade of strikes, violence, and instability. For a young Zubeen, this unrest was both a constraint and a crucible. It confined his world but also shaped his purpose. In an environment of fear and fragmentation, music became a lifeline.