The organising committee of the North East Integration Rally (NEIR) has expressed deep grief over the sudden demise of legendary singer Zubeen Garg, calling him a cultural icon who gave voice to the idea of unity across the region.
NEIR founder and CEO Biswadeep Gupta said the committee has decided to dedicate its upcoming events to Garg’s memory. “Zubeen was very vocal about the integration of Northeast India. With more than 38,000 songs in nearly 40 languages, his contribution to society and culture is enormous, and many may not even realise the scale of it,” Gupta said.
In a Facebook post, Gupta wrote, “Today God must be crying watching the tears on Earth,” while sharing one of Garg’s last performances, held in Singapore. He also posted a tribute poem by Guwahati-based poet Gitanjali Goswami, a member of the NEIR 2026 team.
Professor (Dr) Sukamal Deb from Ahmedabad called Garg a true artist whose creativity, empathy, and generosity embodied unity and humanity. “With his departure, a void is created. The loss is ours, especially in a time when fellow feeling has taken a back seat,” he wrote, adding that Garg’s songs reflected his deep love for humanity.
Meghalaya MLA and former minister Alexander Laloo Hek also mourned the loss. “The sudden demise of Zubeen Garg is a big loss to all the people of the Northeast, and Assam in particular. I convey my deepest condolences to his family and near and dear ones. It is also a great loss to the singers’ fraternity, music lovers, and his countless fans,” Hek said.
The NEIR has resolved to honour Garg’s contributions at its upcoming rally, describing him as not only a celebrated singer but also a unifying voice for the entire region.
