Voice That United Assam: Gaurav Gogoi Demands Bharat Ratna for Zubeen Garg

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the posthumous conferment of the Bharat Ratna on late singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, one of Assam’s most loved and influential artistes.

In his letter, Gogoi said that Zubeen Garg’s untimely death has left the entire state of Assam devastated. He recalled the massive outpouring of grief seen across the state, especially in Guwahati, where lakhs of people gathered on the streets to pay their last respects. When Zubeen Garg’s mortal remains were brought back to Assam from Singapore, the crowd that assembled was among the top five largest such gatherings in the world, reflecting the deep love and emotional bond people shared with him.

People from all walks of life, cutting across age, class and communities, came together to bid farewell to the singer. Many were seen crying openly, as if they had lost a member of their own family. According to Gogoi, this spontaneous and emotional response showed how deeply Zubeen Garg touched the lives of ordinary people.

Talking about his contribution, the MP noted that Zubeen Garg sang nearly 40,000 songs in various languages of Assam and the Northeast. Beyond music, he played a larger role in society. Like Bhupen Hazarika, Zubeen Garg used his songs to talk about social problems, raise questions and challenge the government whenever he felt something was wrong. Fearless and courageous, he never hesitated to speak his mind.

Gogoi said Zubeen Garg’s death has created a void in society that will be extremely difficult to fill in the near future.

The MP also mentioned that he has been consistently raising the issue at different institutional platforms. On December 3, 2025, he raised the demand in Parliament for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Zubeen Garg posthumously. A day later, on December 4, he wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking clarity and accountability regarding Zubeen Garg’s untimely demise during an official Government of India cultural engagement abroad.

In his communication to the Prime Minister, Gogoi underlined Zubeen Garg’s unparalleled contribution to Indian music and culture. He said the artist played a crucial role in taking the Assamese language and the region’s artistic expressions to national and international audiences.

The MP stated that awarding the Bharat Ratna to Zubeen Garg after his death would be a fitting national honour for an artist whose life’s work went beyond regional boundaries.

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