Zubeen Garg: Assam’s Rebel Voice and Why His Loss Froze an Entire State

On a day in late September 2025, Assam stood still. Zubeen Garg, more than just a pop idol, was gone. News broke, offices closed, the government announced official mourning, and thousands filled the streets. It felt like a whole generation had lost its echo.

Key Takeaways

• Zubeen Garg was more than a singer—he was Assam’s voice in every sense.
• He stood up to both politicians and militants, always speaking his mind.
• Garg's music united people and gave hope during some of Assam’s darkest years.
• His acts of kindness off-stage matched his outspokenness.

When Music Meant Defiance

In the early 1990s, Assam was in chaos. Armed groups like ULFA demanded a separate state, and the army’s crackdowns left many young people frustrated and afraid. That’s when, in the middle of confusion and violence, Zubeen dropped his first album, Anamika (1992). Suddenly, hope had a soundtrack.

Zubeen’s songs weren’t just about love or heartbreak. They became anthems during protests, echoed through tea gardens and valleys, and reminded young people of their roots with pride. At a time when many wanted to move to big cities or speak only in English, Zubeen’s music, sung in beautiful Assamese, felt personal. He showed that singing in your own tongue could be powerful.

A table summarising his career:

Fame But Not Fortune

Although Zubeen sang over 38,000 songs in more than 40 languages, including Telugu, Bengali, and Hindi, he never became rich. Most of the money from his music went to companies, who only paid him one-time recording fees. But he didn’t care much for money.

What really made Zubeen special was how he lived. He regularly sat with workers, ate with them, and helped anyone in need. People lined up at his house—not for autographs, but for help with medical bills or school fees. When floods devastated Assam, Zubeen was out delivering supplies. During COVID, he offered up his own house to be turned into a care centre.

His kindness wasn’t showy. It was part of daily life. He even rescued and adopted children in trouble. One story goes that he saw a young girl being abused as a domestic worker, rescued her, adopted her, and fought a long legal battle to keep her safe.

Rebel With a Cause

Zubeen wasn’t afraid of anyone—not politicians, not militants, not religious leaders. Inspired by Che Guevara, he called himself a fighter, not a politician. He spoke against corruption everywhere, openly declaring that most leaders, whether from any party, couldn’t be trusted.

He also didn’t care for caste or religious labels. Zubeen said he was just free. He dropped his sacred thread as a teenager, used it for mundane things, and questioned rituals he felt were wrong.

Once, when Bollywood actor Govinda sacrificed a buffalo at a temple, Zubeen declared that no real god wants animal blood, and even challenged the actor to sacrifice himself instead if he was so devoted.

Unafraid of Threats

When militant outfits threatened singers not to perform Hindi songs at Assamese festivals, Zubeen not only refused to listen—he publicly challenged them. They threatened his life, and still he stood his ground, saying music isn’t about language. For a while, the government tried to give him police protection; he preferred staying with people, saying he’d be safer in the crowd than behind guards.

Politics, Protests, and Unity

He never stepped back when something felt wrong. When the controversial CAA law came, Zubeen was at the front of protests. He wrote and sang a song that became the protest anthem: “Don’t play politics, my friend.”

Not just there—he protested tree cutting in Guwahati, even warning the chief minister. For Zubeen, a singer’s job wasn’t just entertainment—it was standing up.

What Sets Zubeen Apart

So many celebrities in India play it safe. They tweet birthday wishes to the Prime Minister but say nothing on tough issues. Zubeen was different. He spoke up, risked his popularity, and never chased power or money.

Sometimes, others had the same spirit—Diljit Dosanjh at farmer protests, Sonu Sood helping migrants—but Zubeen lived for Assam every moment.

That’s why, on the day he died, people from every caste, religion, and background came together. In a divided time, he united everyone, even in grief.

Remembering Zubeen Garg

Zubeen Garg’s life was messy, bold, and real. He didn’t just sing for crowds—he stood with them, no matter the cost. Assam didn't just lose a singer. They lost a friend who never turned his back.

Will more celebrities take inspiration? Maybe. For now, Zubeen’s songs, and his defiance, are what so many will remember every time they need hope.