08-Sep-2026

A wall painting on the compound wall of the late Zubin Garg, the artist who moved many hearts, was clearly visible from the window of the room where I stayed in Guwahati. I assumed that his die-hard fans had painted it a year ago when their iconic hero bid them farewell for ever. Eager to see what the compound looked like, I quietly walked into it between my conference sessions, which were also taking place in the same locality. As I inched closer to the incomplete building that stood on a hillock overlooking the magnificent Brahmaputra, a river that he revered so dearly, his portrait greeted me. The compound is greenery-filled; therefore, it is serene, quiet, and somber. On the ground floor of the structure stood several pictures of his happy days—pictures of him performing, looking cheerful and energetic, thus instantly bringing back fond memories of his soulful singings. One thought immediately invaded my mind—that once a man is gone, everything around him, including nature, folds into a state of lifelessness.

At the entry gate, I met a few of his fans, who said they are preparing to commemorate his first death anniversary, which falls on the 19th of September, a day when they will remind who Zubin Garg was. May their love for Zubin live on!