Ten Bigha Land, Memorials: Assam Cabinet Honours Zubeen Garg Ahead Of Final Rites On Sep 23

The Assam cabinet on Sunday announced a series of decisions to honour the legacy of late singer-composer Zubeen Garg, whose sudden death earlier this week plunged the state into mourning.

The government has extended the period of state mourning till September 23, the day Garg will be laid to rest.

After consultations with his family, the cabinet also approved the allotment of 10 bighas of land at Hatimura in Kamarkuchi NC village, Kamrup (Metro), for his final resting place and a permanent memorial.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the decision on X, saying: “After discussions with the family of Zubeen Garg, #AssamCabinet has approved allotment of 10 bigha land in Kamarkuchi, near Guwahati, where our #BelovedZubeen will be laid to rest

on September 23.”

In addition, the state will take his ashes to Jorhat, where another memorial will be built to honour Garg’s deep association with the historic town.

A Voice That Defined Assam’s Music

Zubeen Garg, renowned for hits such as “Ya Ali,” passed away in Singapore after experiencing breathlessness and a seizure while swimming.

Despite efforts including CPR and immediate hospitalisation at Singapore General Hospital, he was pronounced dead at 2:50 pm IST on Friday.

Born in 1972 in Jorhat, Garg was a versatile singer, music director and actor who transcended regional barriers.

He shot to national fame with his 2002 Bollywood hit album “Ya Ali” from the film Gangster, but remained rooted in Assam’s folk and contemporary music scene, producing hundreds of Assamese songs and mentoring a generation of young artists.

Affectionately called the “heartthrob of Assam,” Garg was known not just for his music but also for his activism on social and cultural issues.

His death has left an irreplaceable void in the state’s artistic landscape, with fans and fellow musicians paying tribute across the region.

The state government’s decision to create memorials in both Kamrup and Jorhat aims to ensure that the legacy of Zubeen Garg—whose voice became the soundtrack of Assamese identity—lives on for generations to come.