In poll-bound Assam, ‘Justice for Zubeen’ remains a deeply emotive issue—with fading political weight

People have not stopped grieving the singer’s death. While parties promise justice for him, the matter has not quite translated into an electoral fault line that could shape poll outcomes.

Giant cutouts of Zubeen Garg at the site where the state government is building a memorial in his honour | Sourav Roy Barman | ThePrint

Guwahati/Jorhat: Last week, as Gaurav Gogoi’s nomination rally passed Jorhat’s Jagannath Barooah University, a group of students stood on the sidelines, raising loud pro-BJP slogans as a sea of Congress flags went by.

In a more politically volatile setting, the moment could have spiralled into a confrontation. But in Jorhat—known for its cultural richness—it unfolded in a distinctly democratic fashion, with both sides exchanging glances, and even a few smiles, despite their evident differences.

Incidentally, Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, whose death in September last year remains a deeply emotive issue in the state, was an alumnus of the institution, formerly a college. In that sense, the moment also captured a defining paradox of the upcoming Assam assembly election.

Six months after his death—declared an accidental drowning by authorities in Singapore, and now the subject of judicial scrutiny in India—cries of “Justice for Zubeen” still echo across Assam. Yet, the issue has not quite translated into an electoral fault line that could shape the outcome of the 9 April vote.

For Arpita Gogoi, a student at the institution, its elevation to university status is a source of pride that also informs her political leaning. While she acknowledges its infrastructural deficiencies, she pins her hopes on “Mama”—as Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma is popularly known in the state—to address them. 

But she has not stopped grieving Zubeen’s passing, which brought Assam to a standstill last year. Notwithstanding a Singapore court’s recent ruling that Zubeen’s death on 19 September resulted from accidental drowning, a broad section of the state’s population appears convinced that foul play was involved.

Zubeen, who was 52, had died while he was on a yacht trip to Singapore’s Saint John Island with some members of the Assamese community, among others. His autopsy report, conducted in Singapore, noted a blood alcohol level of 333 mg per 100 ml, which was high enough to significantly impair coordination.

Zubeen’s funeral, held on the outskirts of Guwahati on 23 September, had drawn lakhs of mourners. The outpouring of emotion had stunned much of the rest of India, which was largely unaware of his phenomenal following in Assam and the larger region.

His death had triggered collective grief and anger directed at event organisers, his manager, and others linked to the Singapore trip. In response, the Sarma government had constituted a Special Investigative Team, which has since charged four individuals with murder, alleging they had forced him to drink and enter the water.

A hoarding announcing a marathon in Zubeen’s memory in Jorhat, next to a BJP campaign banner | Sourav Roy Barman | ThePrint

Following a decision by the state Cabinet, the Guwahati High Court set up a fast-track sessions court on 19 March to hear the death-related case, with daily hearings aimed at ensuring swift trial amid persistent public and family demands for justice.

Last week, Sarma said that the Assam Police probe into the case had found that Zubeen was made to drink as part of a conspiracy. He also defended letting Assam Police lead the investigation, arguing that the crucial elements of the case, including financial trails, were rooted in India.

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, however, called the Singapore verdict “hard to believe”, questioning the divergence between the two probes despite coordination, and said it could end up benefiting the accused. In an interview to ThePrint last week, Gaurav said justice for Zubeen would feature in the agenda of the “first Cabinet meeting if the Congress wins”.

In its manifesto released Monday, the Congress said it would ensure justice within 100 days if it comes to power.

Souvenirs and pictures being sold outside the site of Zubeen’s memorial | Sourav Roy Barman | ThePrint

 

‘Life goes on’

At Kamarkuchi, a stretch off National Highway 27 where Zubeen was cremated, the site has since taken on the character of a shrine, drawing visitors at all hours. The state government’s plan to develop the site into a permanent memorial has made little progress, which many find unacceptable.

Anupam Deka, one of the visitors on the day of Eid, said that a recent spell of rain had flooded the site, where lamps and candles are often lit in the singer’s memory, and many also offer puja. Zubeen’s family has also expressed their dissatisfaction with the development.

“The government can build flyovers within months, but somehow could not develop this site. This only deepens the belief among many that Zubeen will not get justice while this government is in power,” said Deka, a teacher in a private school in Darrang district.

Zubeen Garg’s memorial site | Sourav Roy Barman | ThePrint

At the same time, he believes the controversy surrounding Zubeen’s death is unlikely to influence the electoral outcome.

A few steps away, Asit Kumar Kakoti, a government employee from Bongaigaon, was among the hundreds gathered at the memorial. Streaming live on Facebook with his daughter’s help, he appealed to politicians across party lines to prioritise the case.

“This may have some impact on the elections, but the BJP is racing ahead nonetheless. Setting up the fast-track court is a good step. The BJP is present everywhere across Assam and has done some work. There is corruption too, but at least they are delivering,” he said, echoing a broader sense of resigned acceptance that the party is likely to retain power.

Despite its fading political salience, Zubeen’s presence looms large across Assam. His photographs adorn taxis and autorickshaws. Graffiti and murals celebrate him. Fan clubs organise events, including marathons, in his memory. Earlier this month, a newly discovered plant species in Assam was even named after him—Osbeckia zubeengargiana.

On Eid, the presence of numerous Muslim families, such as that of mason Shahjahan Ali from Nagaon, at the memorial underscored Zubeen’s syncretic appeal. It is perhaps best captured in his oft-quoted line: “Mor kono jaati nai, mor kono dharma nai, mor kono bhagawan nai. Moi mukto, moi Kanchenjunga (I have no caste, no religion, no God. I am free, I am Kanchenjunga).”

Visitors at Zubeen’s cremation site | Sourav Roy Barman | ThePrint

At the polling booth, however, practical considerations are likely to outweigh emotion.

“Life goes on. People move on and are mostly occupied with issues that affect their daily lives. Zubeen da will always rule our hearts, but the fact is he is no more,” said Amit Nath, a private school teacher from Hojai, offering a sobering political reality.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)