If one wants to experience conflicting reports following a cult-like personality’s demise in a mysterious situation on foreign soil, come to Assam as they have attained a rare expertise to narrate stories regarding an incident according to their wishes. With no quote or sound bite from the location, the Guwahati-based television anchors have earned the capacity to kill time with unorganized narrations that usually confuse the audience. Such an unfortunate incident took place recently, when a heartbreaking news surfaced from Singapore that shocked the entire population of Assam with the sudden demise of maverick singer Zubeen Garg. Multiple electronic media outlets presented conflicting reports about the incident that made the viewers more puzzled how the cultural icon had to die- was it a mishap in paragliding, scuba diving, yacht or any other sea outing.
The sadness and melancholy instantly turned into outrages with a genuine question- why Zubeen was taken to the island nation as he was not physically well for months. Millions of his fans and admirers in eastern India got annoyed when they encountered some clippings of videos witnessing Zubeen swimming in the seawater even without a life jacket, not to speak of the doctors’ warning to go inside a water body. The netizens also cried foul, why his tragic incident was not properly reported, even though a group of Asomiya people (including a journalist, a news channel owner, a police officer and many media savvy individuals) had accompanied Zubeen to participate in the 4th North East India Festival, organized in the southeast Asian nation, on 19, 20 and 21 September 2025.
Widely circulated newspaper of Singapore, The Straits Times reported that Zubeen was admitted in a critical condition at Singapore General Hospital on 19 September afternoon after a freak accident from where the police rescued him. Although doctors provided treatment to him in the intensive care unit and monitored his condition closely, they could not revive him. In response to its query, the local police said they received a call for assistance at St John’s Island at about 3.30 pm. A 52-year-old man was taken unconscious to the hospital, where he subsequently died, reported the daily, adding that no foul play was suspected in the accident. An autopsy was conducted the next morning and his mortal remains were handed over for carrying back to Guwahati (via New Delhi).
Born to a modest family of Mohini Mohon Borthakur (a retired magistrate who used to write poems with pen-name Kapil Thakur) and Ily Borthakur (a classical singer, who died some years back) on 18 November 1972, Zubeen was named in childhood days as Jiban Borthakur (later adopted new name with admiration to maestro Zubin Mehta). He had two sisters namely Jonkey (who died in a road accident two decades back while traveling to a distant place for performing in a cultural show) and Palme, a city-based professional. Married to popular fashion designer Garima Saikia in 2002, Zubeen got all India fame with his resounding voice in the song ‘Ya Ali..’ for Bollywood movie Gangster. An animal lover, a philanthropist and versatile genius, Zubeen sang thousands of songs in multiple languages and could play a number of musical instruments. Awarded with various honours, the identical face of Assam’s hugely popular Bihu functions in recent decades, Zubeen also produced and acted in Assamese movies.
The sad news brought Assam to a standstill for nearly five days and turned Guwahati into a sea of humans- weeping, sobbing, crying and exclaiming why Zubeen was put to death thousands kilometers away from his motherland. The phenomenal singer’s last journey started in a flower-decked ambulance on 21 September morning from Guwahati airport to Zubeen’s Kahilipara residence and then he was moved to Sarusajai stadium driving amidst unprecedented crowds. Zubeen was put inside a glass-casket for public viewing and homage for two days there and cremated on 23 September at Kamarkuchi near Guwahati with full state honours and 21-gun salutes after four days of mourning. Many recollected sad memories relating to the final departure of Dr Bhupen Hazarika (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011), a widely acclaimed singer, musician, writer, filmmaker and public communicator, when the residents of the eastern Indian subcontinent grieved in total.
Meanwhile, all the newspapers of Assam dedicated front-pages for Zubeen related developments and news channels started telecasting all important updates round the clock. Even before Zubeen’s last rites, over 60 police complaints were lodged against Shyamkanu Mahanta (chief organizer of the festival in Singapore, where Zubeen was scheduled to perform), Siddharth Sharma (his manager), Shekarjyoti Goswami (a Zubeen associate) and Sanjive Narain (businessman and owner of Prag News satellite channel and Dainik Janambhumi newspaper) in various police stations, alleging that Zubeen had to die in Singapore because of their collective callousness. Facing unprecedented public cries, the State government also ordered a probe and urgently formed a special investigation team (SIT) under the criminal investigation department (CID) of Assam Police.
A second post mortem was conducted at Gauhati medical college hospital in the presence of an AIIMS Guwahati doctor as a large section of people suspected foul play in Zubeen’s unexpected death outside the country. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma disclosed that lookout notices were issued against both the accused Mahanta and Sharma through Interpol so that they cannot flee to foreign countries. He also asked them to appear before the CID officials in Guwahati by 6 October. A separate money laundering case has also been registered against Mahanta. Eight non-resident Assamese professionals, who accompanied Zubeen in Singapore sea outings on the fateful day, are also asked to appear within 10 days. The SIT members recently raided the residents of Mahanta and Sharma in the city and seized a number of articles. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and State assembly’s opposition leader Debabrata Saikia demanded a transparent probe (preferably by the Central Bureau of Investigation) into the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with many of his ministers, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi with others and a number of claimed national film-stars and singers mourned Zubeen’s death. PM Modi even remembered Zubeen and his creative journey during 28 September radio program ‘Mon Ki Baat’. Terming the artiste as a Kohinoor of Assamese culture, Modi stated, Zubeen’s music will continue to live in the hearts of people for generations. However, the so-called national news outlets initially ignored the developments. Leaving aside a few newspapers and satellite channels, they took days to report on Zubeen’s death and its aftermath. But their ignorance and inefficiency were compensated by thousands of digital media platforms, which relentlessly updated all important developments from the land of Zubeen, who once exclaimed that he does not belong to any community/nation, religion or God. Indeed, Zubeen Garg was independent and remained free from all kinds of outdated beliefs and practices in our society.
