Zubeen Garg, one of the most celebrated musicians from Northeast India, died while scuba diving in Singapore on Friday. The Assamese singer, composer, lyricist and actor was renowned for his versatile contributions to both regional and Hindi music industries. He was 52.

Early life and family

Born on November 18, 1972, into an Assamese Brahmin family in Tura, Meghalaya, he was the son of Mohini Borthakur and the late Ily Borthakur. His birth name was Zubeen Borthakur. In the 1990s, he adopted the stage name ‘Zubeen Garg’, replacing his surname with his gotra.

Zubeen tied the knot with fashion designer Garima Saikia from Golaghat, Assam, on February 4, 2002. He often described himself as irreligious, stating that he did not identify with any caste or religion.

Musical beginnings

Zubeen began his musical journey at the age of three, learning from his mother before studying tabla under Pandit Robin Banerjee for 11 years. He was also introduced to Assamese folk music by Guru Ramani Rai. While still in school, he started composing songs, often giving them to other singers to perform.

Rise to national fame

National fame came in 2006 with the Bollywood chartbuster Ya Ali from the film Gangster. The track not only topped charts across India but also gained popularity overseas, cementing his place in mainstream music. Over the years, he delivered more Bollywood hits including Subah Subah and Kya Raaz Hai.

Strong roots in Assamese music

Although he rose to prominence in Bollywood, Zubeen remained deeply connected to Assamese music, with an extensive repertoire across genres such as modern Assamese, folk, devotional, and Bihu. He was widely reported to be the highest-paid singer in Assam for many years.

Master of instruments

Zubeen was also a gifted multi-instrumentalist, able to play 12 instruments including the anandalahari, dhol, dotara, drums, guitar, harmonica, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard, tabla, and a range of percussion instruments.

Recognition and honours

In recognition of his work, he was honoured as Guest Artist of the Year at the Assam Convention held in Oakbrook, Chicago, in 2011.

On May 27, 2024, the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) degree on Zubeen Garg.

Social work and activism

Zubeen Garg also ran a charitable trust, the Kalaguru Artiste Foundation, which extended financial support to a range of social causes. During the devastating floods in Assam, he appealed to the public to come forward with donations of clothes, medicines and monetary aid.

Through his film Kanchanjangha, he raised his voice against corruption in the Assam Public Service Commission’s recruitment process.

A passionate football enthusiast, Garg often played in charity matches, using the sport as a way to raise funds for those affected by floods.