What Zubeen Garg Meant To A Generation And How His Death Paralysed A City

The body had arrived the previous night from Singapore.

Guwahati/New Delhi:

In 2006, Anurag Basu's film 'Gangster' released with little fanfare. Despite its modest reception, one element transcended the production—its soundtrack. The song 'Ya Ali' resonated with an entire generation, becoming ubiquitous in college canteens, neighborhood music shops, night buses, and dormitory gatherings. The distinctive voice behind this memorable track belonged to Zubeen Garg.

Nearly twenty years later, the unexpected passing of this acclaimed singer has brought his home state of Assam to a standstill. Throughout Guwahati, normal activities ceased—businesses closed, services halted, and thousands gathered in the streets. The collective mourning reflected not just the loss of a talented artist, but the departure of a cultural ambassador who elevated Assam's presence on the global stage.

A Metropolis at a Standstill

On Sunday, multitudes lined the 25-kilometer route from Guwahati airport to Kahilipara where Mr. Garg resided. His remains had been transported from Singapore the previous evening, following a tragic drowning incident precipitated by a seizure while swimming.

"The atmosphere is solemn. Faces have been downcast, eyes swollen from tears. It is truly a dark time. I cannot recall the last time my city came together with such overwhelming unity in sorrow. The scene carries an eerie resemblance to the days of the pandemic," Guwahati-based journalist Anita Goswami shared with NDTV.

From Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, the flower-adorned ambulance proceeded slowly toward the city. The journey took approximately five and a half hours—not due to ceremonial protocols but because of the immense crowd participating in the procession.

People of all ages and abilities—seniors, women, children, youth, and differently-abled individuals—lined the roadway. They scattered flowers, offered prayers with folded hands, chanted his name, or simply wept as the convoy inched forward.

"The atmosphere has been gloomy and silent, yet despite the silence, everyone became united as Zubeen's admirers. That itself proves how deeply people loved him. Every few steps, in front of almost every shop, people lit incense sticks as a small tribute. They had even organised little booths on their own where others could come and pay respects. The love people showed for Zubeen Da overflowed in such ways," explained Rupam Mudoi, a digital artist from Guwahati, when speaking to NDTV.

Every available vantage point—balconies, terraces, road dividers—was occupied by mourners. Vehicles stood abandoned on service roads. Police forces, personally led by Assam's Director General Harmeet Singh and Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta, struggled to maintain clear pathways.

As the procession entered Kahilipara, security personnel established a perimeter to afford the family private time with Mr. Garg's remains. Media representatives and general mourners were kept at a distance. Inside, the coffin was opened, the singer's body was draped in a traditional Assamese gamosa, and placed within a glass casket, his face visible for a final farewell.

A Citywide Closure

The mourning extended beyond the procession route. Guwahati observed what became known as a "Black Day." Commercial establishments, educational institutions, and dining venues closed their doors. Street food vendors disappeared. The typically bustling areas of Fancy Bazar and Pan Bazar resembled ghost towns.

However, not all closures were voluntary. Fan organizations and civilian groups insisted that businesses remain shuttered, creating some tension.

"I believe it is fine if people did it out of respect for our beloved Zubeen Da. But it should come from the heart, not from pressure. Forcing someone, intimidating them, or shutting businesses down isn't the right way to show respect. But people are highly emotional, so that is understandable. We lost one of our very own," Ms. Goswami remarked.

"Many vendors and shopkeepers were forced to shut down because the general public itself, being fans of Zubeen Da, could not think of doing business. Their emotions ran so high that they didn't consider anything else. People who depended on daily earnings to survive didn't think about what would happen to them after such a complete shutdown," added Mr. Mudoi. "Personally, getting daily essentials will become a bit difficult. If everything stays shut even for two days, there's no other way out. Even convenient services like Blinkit and others were completely closed. So these conveniences couldn't be relied on."

The emotional outpouring affected food delivery services and quick e-commerce operations, creating difficulties for students and office workers who depended on these conveniences.

"Food delivery services were shut, everyday conveniences disappeared, and even civilian groups went around forcing shops that remained open to close. I understand that he was a legend, but bringing an entire city, or even the whole state, to a standstill feels a bit too much," Udipta Sharma, a student from Guwahati, told NDTV.

In Remembrance

Throughout his career spanning more than three decades, Mr. Garg performed over 38,000 songs in 40 languages and dialects. For many, he represented not merely a vocalist but the embodiment of Assam's cultural heritage, projecting the state's voice onto national and international platforms.

The farewell ceremonies began at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, where Chief Minister Sarma, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, and senior Assam officials received Mr. Garg's coffin from Singapore.

Upon arrival at Guwahati airport, his wife Garima Saikia Garg broke down as she placed a gamosa on the coffin and embraced it. Airport personnel and fellow travelers openly wept as the casket was transferred to the waiting ambulance.

"Here (Guwahati), he was no less than a god. Zubeen da wasn't any artist; he was part of our lives, woven into the very fabric of our culture. He cared more about Assam and its people than he thought possible. He was truly one of the masses. Also why people are having a hard time believing he is now gone, " Ms. Goswami reflected.

The procession included Mr. Garg's beloved open jeep—often his preferred transportation to concerts—bearing a large portrait. His band members followed in the same vehicle.

Admirers sang his compositions and chanted "Jai Zubeen Da" while walking alongside. Many carried cutouts, while others displayed gamosas embroidered with "ZG Forever."

"People are lighting candles, burning incense, and marching through the streets while singing 'Mayabini', the song Zubeen da himself had wished to be played after his death. Assam has lost a true gem, and there will never be another like him," said Mimli Bordoloi, an engineer from Mangaldoi.

"Even after his death, although there is sadness, fans and admirers have not felt truly alone, because everyone has been together through the ceremonies. But once these are over and people sit alone, that's when the true impact will hit-the realisation that Zubeen Da is no longer here. That's when many will truly break down," observed Mr. Mudoi.

The Assam cabinet is expected to determine the location for his cremation and memorial. Sonapur, near Guwahati, is being considered.

When asked about cherished memories of Mr. Garg, Ms. Gosw