Politics has begun surrounding the unnatural death of singer Zubeen Garg. The ruling and opposition parties have already taken to the field, trying to use this incident to their own advantage.
In Assam, the ruling party is the BJP. Yet, the state president of this very party, Dilip Saikia, has said that his party will put pressure on the government to uncover the mystery behind Zubeen’s death.
The matter seems quite confusing here. From where does the question of creating pressure on one’s own government arise? After all, the state government has already formed a special investigation team (SIT) to unravel the mystery of his death.
This team from the police department has gone through a great deal of effort, visiting the site of Zubeen’s death in Singapore, speaking with Singapore police, and gathering information.
The accused Shyamkanu Mahanta and others have been detained, and many people have been interrogated.
Even after all this, the ruling party organizing public gatherings demanding justice for Zubeen and campaigning in his favour clearly reflects a political motive, something that no one should fail to notice. The main opposition party, Congress, is also not far behind.
The party’s central leader Rahul Gandhi himself visited Zubeen’s house to offer condolences.
The state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi is trying to strengthen the party’s base by bringing Rahul Gandhi and expanding influence among Zubeen’s admirers.
Leftist and regional parties, while paying their tributes to Zubeen, are also trying to win public sympathy. Their statements to the media have revealed such intentions.
However, the ruling party has explained that the public rally is being held to demand that the case be tried in a fast-track court and that the investigation be completed quickly.
True admirers of Zubeen are participating in these gatherings.
BJP state president Dilip Saikia said that his party would put pressure on the government to ensure justice for Zubeen.
He also said that justice is not given by the government, but by the court — so their gathering aims to ensure that the judicial process moves swiftly.
Central minister Pabitra Margherita, state ministers Jayanta Malla Baruah, Pijush Hazarika, Chandramohan Patowary, and several MLAs are participating in this rally demanding justice for Zubeen.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s repeated remarks on the Zubeen incident have somewhat confused the public.
Since the state police department works under him, the SIT formed from its officials cannot function entirely independently — certainly, its work must be under his supervision.
Members of the SIT have even gone to Singapore to investigate the real mystery behind Zubeen’s death.
The Chief Minister said that some of Zubeen’s fans are doing things contrary to Zubeen’s ideals, but the government will not bow to them.
He has openly said that his government is committed to giving Zubeen justice.
He also stated that the people of the state are not angry with the BJP as a party, but only with him personally.
This appears quite confusing — how can one accept that people are angry only with him but not with his party, which he himself leads?
Explaining Zubeen’s famous statement — “I have no caste, I have no religion, I am free, I am Kanchenjunga” — the Chief Minister said that this was actually a dialogue from the film Kanchenjunga which Zubeen often quoted.
Some people, using this line, have entered the field to derive political gain in the name of Zubeen fandom. But merely saying “I have no caste” doesn’t make it so — Zubeen was an Assamese and an asset of Assam.
To say he had no religion is also wrong, as he was a devotee of Lord Shiva and regularly visited temples. These facts are now gradually coming to light, said the Chief Minister.
From this, it is clear that the ruling party has already devised a strategy to draw a line of division among Zubeen’s admirers.
The Chief Minister also said that he is not a judge — justice for the Zubeen case will come from the court, and everyone has faith in the judiciary.
But it is seen that whenever he comments on the matter, a certain section reacts strongly — and that is where the smell of politics emerges.
The Chief Minister said he too is a fan of Zubeen. After the SIT submits its chargesheet, he himself will join the movement with party workers to demand justice for Zubeen, since after filing of the chargesheet, the responsibility of justice lies with the court.
The ruling party’s call is only to ensure that the court proceedings are speedy.
There is no politics behind it, he asserted — rather, it is the opposition that is politicizing the Zubeen issue.
People of the state could not truly gauge the depth of Zubeen’s popularity while he was alive.
Did Zubeen himself ever imagine the frenzy that would arise among the public after his untimely death? From his speeches at various events, it was evident that he had made a place in people’s hearts.
Once, at a Bihu function, he was told not to sing in any language other than Assamese. Zubeen then declared that the choice of songs belongs to the artist, and he would not accept interference in that.
Standing on stage, he announced that he would not perform at that event, would not take any payment, and would leave immediately. He even told the organizers, “I do not like you, but I like the audience.” Addressing the audience, he said, “I love you. You are my people, and I am yours.”
Though Zubeen appeared somewhat wayward, his heart was soft. Moreover, he was extremely courageous — he feared no threat. After his death, as his activities surfaced one after another on social media, people’s respect for him grew.
Major national media houses covered the story of his death; those who hadn’t known him came to recognize such a talented artist — and more than that, a noble human being.
His death stirred emotional waves in politicians’ hearts, though they may not admit it. Zubeen’s words — “I have no religion, I have no caste, I have no God, I am free, I am Kanchenjunga” — reflected a moral philosophy that touched many. His humanistic values momentarily broke the walls dividing people of different languages and religions.
Millions who joined his funeral procession showed that Zubeen was indeed a true son of God, possessing divine energy.
Zubeen was a singer who performed in 40 Indian languages and sang over 32,000 songs. Yet very few people knew he had sung so many.
While the people of Assam and Bengal were familiar with him, those in northern, western, and southern India hardly knew him, even though many of his Hindi songs were superhits and had earned him Filmfare awards. Yet, his publicity remained limited.
The reason — Zubeen disliked the celebrity culture. He disliked how stars preserved their careers by attending glamorous events and social circles.
That’s why he left Mumbai and returned to Assam, preferring to live as a common man among common people.
He once said that he felt more comfortable with rickshaw pullers, handcart workers, and shopkeepers than with wealthy elites.
The honesty of such working people deeply moved him. Zubeen often helped many people financially without hesitation and considered it his duty.
His generosity was seldom known publicly, but after his death, when these stories came out in the media, people’s emotional connection with him multiplied.
People realized that this musician was also a pure-hearted human being, free of greed or hatred.
His death at the age of just 52 is a huge loss for society — not only of a musician, but of a genuine human being.
Every day, thousands of people visit Zubeen’s resting place at Sonapur to pay tribute.
No one tells them to go — they go out of heartfelt emotion to pay their respects, because there is nothing left to give him except reverence.
Many have openly acknowledged that Zubeen was not just a local artist but a true asset of Assam and India.
His funeral procession was attended by such a massive crowd that it entered the Guinness World Records as the fourth largest in the world — after those of pop star Michael Jackson, Queen Elizabeth of Britain, and the Pope of the Vatican.
No other Indian musician’s funeral ever drew such attendance. Even after Bhupen Hazarika’s death, such mass emotion was not seen — though Bhupen had guided Assam toward liberation and awakened people’s conscience through humanistic light.
Yet, between Bhupen and Zubeen, there lies a vast difference — the spontaneous, free-spirited Zubeen was much more beloved by ordinary people.
Even those who didn’t understand music felt a connection with him as a compassionate human being.
This is an invaluable achievement.
Zubeen perhaps never imagined that such emotion would flow after his death. Indeed, if his death had been natural, perhaps emotions would not have been so intense — but his untimely and unnatural death ignited deep public feeling.
After Zubeen’s death was reported in different media outlets, people from 146 countries searched about him on the internet.
Human beings, after a certain time, depart from worldly attachments — their mortal body merges with the five elements. But what remains are their creations and their memories — priceless treasures.
Through generations, people preserve such creations and memories, for an artist’s work keeps the world of music blooming.
Other singers perform those songs and feel joy. After Zubeen’s death, not only across India but also in Bangladesh, artists have been performing his songs.
Even Bangladeshi singers have sung his Assamese songs on social media — an expression of pure love and respect, a priceless treasure that Zubeen possessed.
His creations elevated Assam’s dignity within the country. Every day, somewhere, someone mentions Zubeen in an event — out of genuine affection.
This love and unity among people created through admiration for Zubeen has brought harmony to the state — just as he wished, to erase divisions among people. This is the greatest reward in a person’s life.
As Zubeen was an asset of Assam, it is natural that his death would influence voters’ sentiments. Keeping this in mind, political parties may claim they are not politicizing his death, but in truth, they are.
Because next year’s state assembly elections are approaching, and Zubeen’s death may indeed become the trump card in that political battle.
