News Trust India remembers Zubin Garg: the voice that made forty languages sing as one
The world lost a musical treasure on September 19, 2025, when Zubin Garg, the beloved voice behind the iconic “Ya Ali,” breathed his last in Singapore. At 52, this polyglot maestro’s life was tragically cut short during what should have been a celebration of Northeast Indian culture. He had arrived in Singapore just two days earlier for the North East India Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on September 20th, a performance that would never grace the stage.
The cruel irony of fate struck during a scuba diving expedition, where the man whose voice could navigate the deepest emotions found himself struggling for breath beneath the waves. Despite immediate CPR and swift medical attention at Singapore General Hospital, Zubin was declared dead at 2:30 PM in the ICU, leaving behind a void that no melody can fill.
Born on November 18, 1972, in Tinsukia district of Assam, Zubin Garg was not merely a singer, he was a linguistic phoenix who soared across cultural boundaries. His extraordinary talent manifested in over 38,000 songs spanning more than 40 languages and dialects, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, English, Bodo, Karbi, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, and Sanskrit, among others.
Zubin wasn’t confined to the recording studio; he was a multifaceted artist who wore the hats of composer, lyricist, actor, and director with equal finesse. In Assam, he held the distinction of being the highest-paid singer, a testament to his unparalleled popularity and artistic worth.
Life had already dealt Zubin a devastating blow when his younger sister, Jongki Borthakur, also a promising singer, died in a tragic accident at just 18 years old in 2002. The haunting parallel is that Zubin was in the same car but had switched to another vehicle just minutes before the collision. This earlier loss perhaps shaped his artistic sensitivity and emotional depth that resonated through his music.
The news of Zubin’s passing sent shockwaves across the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief, stating, “Saddened by the demise of popular singer Zubin Garg. His contribution to music will be remembered. Condolences to family and fans. Om Shanti.”
Rahul Gandhi poignantly observed, “Zubin Garg’s death is a great tragedy. His voice became the identity of a generation. He gave Assamese music a new form through struggle and courage.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma captured the collective anguish: “Today Assam has lost one of its beloved sons. I don’t have words to describe what Zubin meant to Assam. He left too soon; this was not the age to go.”
Zubin Garg’s 2006 breakthrough with “Ya Ali” from the film Gangster may have brought him mainstream Bollywood recognition, but his true legacy lies in democratizing music across linguistic barriers. He proved that melody is a universal language that needs no translation.
As fans gathered at his Guwahati residence upon hearing the tragic news, one truth became crystalline: great artists never truly die,they live on in the hearts they’ve touched and the melodies they’ve gifted to humanity.
About The Author
