I still can’t believe Zubeen Da is no more.
Assam feels different. Quieter. A legend is gone.
Of course, his talent. He was unstoppable — revolutionizing Assamese modern songs, giving us chartbusters month after month. He was a composer, singer, and someone who could play eleven instruments with ease.
A Director. A Producer. An Actor. A man carrying a whole creative universe within him. Honestly, God-gifted is the only word that comes close.
But the more I think about him, the more I realize — it wasn’t just talent that made Zubeen Da who he was. It was his human side. The heart behind the music.
He was bold, he spoke his mind, and he lived by what he said. He was above religion, above language, above class, above politics. He didn’t do things for the camera. He helped people, supported causes, stood up for what he believed in — quietly, without PR drama, without seeking applause.
In a world where everyone wants credit, Zubeen Da just gave to people.
He was fearless in his choices too. How many artists at the peak of fame would walk away from Bollywood to come back home? He could have stayed in Mumbai, chasing money and glamour. Instead, he chose to be with his own people, sing in the language of his heart, live on his own terms. That takes courage. That’s what made him larger than life.
And because of that, Zubeen Da became more than a singer. He became the biggest cultural ambassador Assam could have asked for. His songs carried the soul of the Northeast to the world. And with his death, he has taken his homeland to an even higher pedestal — uniting people in grief, pride, and love.
We all know Zubeen Da’s contribution — not just as a singer, composer, or artist, but as a human being who lived with rare openness and generosity. He gave Assam its voice on the national stage, and for many of us, his music became the soundtrack of growing up, of falling in love, of finding our own identity.
A lesser mortal like me doesn’t need to list his achievements — they are too many, too obvious, too deeply woven into our lives.
But here’s what’s fascinating: across India, micro and nano influencers — many with no connection to Assam or the Northeast — are now creating reels, short vlogs, and tributes around Zubeen Da.
And what’s remarkable is that many of them admit they barely knew of him while he was alive. Yet, through their content, they are reaching millions, starting conversations, and introducing him to new hearts.
And I keep thinking — isn’t this, in its own way, Zubeen Da’s final, invisible contribution?
Even in death, he continues to give. He’s opening new doors of recognition for young creators, making people curious about his songs, his life, his words.
Some will come for the trend — but many will stay for the music. They’ll discover Mayabini, Anamika, Maya, Ya Ali. They’ll find the man who could sing a Bihu song with the same soul as a Bollywood hit or a ghazal.
In an echo of life imitating prophecy, Zubeen Da once declared in a 2019 concert that his song “Mayabini Raatir Bukut” should be played when he dies — and it was indeed played at his funeral and across Assam in the days after. That moment will stay etched forever in people’s hearts.
For me, the more I listen, the more I realize how vast his legacy truly is. Zubeen Da didn’t just create music — he created belonging, courage, and pride in who we are.
Because legends do not die.
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Zubeen Garg has left behind more than songs — he left a path, a principle, a voice for many. His songs will carry on — in living rooms, in concerts, in hearts. His choice to stay rooted, to uplift, to speak — will continue to inspire. His spirit — earnest, bold, and generous — will be remembered by all he touched.
For Assam, he wasn’t just an artist. He was home. Pride. Identity. A way of saying: we too can create greatness that never bows. His death is not just an Assamese loss — it’s a national one. Human. Cultural. Immortal.
And now, more than ever, his story deserves a larger canvas.
Let there be a Bollywood biopic on Zubeen Da — one crafted by Assamese creative minds — that takes his life and message to every corner of India and beyond.
Let young people in Delhi, Mumbai, and across India know his story.
Let them hear not just Ya Ali, but Mayabini, Maya, Anamika — and feel the fire, the love, the rebel, the dreamer behind those notes.
Jai Aai Asom.
Jai Zubeen Da.
