Guwahati, January 30 (IANS). Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing to give Bharat Ratna posthumously to late singer-composer Zubeen Garg.
Garg is considered one of the most influential cultural figures of Assam and the North-East. In a letter written on Friday, Gogoi said Garg’s untimely and tragic death has plunged Assam and the entire North-East region into deep grief, leaving a cultural void that will be difficult to fill.
He described the late artist as a great personality whose creative influence transcended regional boundaries and resonated across the country and beyond. The Congress MP said that he has continuously advocated for giving national recognition to Zubeen Garg through various institutional forums.
Recalling his previous efforts, Gogoi said that on December 3, 2025, he had formally raised the issue in Parliament, and sought to confer India’s highest civilian award posthumously on the renowned musician.
Gogoi further said that a day later, on December 4, 2025, he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had drawn attention to concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death during an official cultural program of the Government of India abroad.
In that letter, he had sought clarification and accountability from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the incident.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Jorhat MP highlighted Zubeen Garg’s unique contribution to Indian music and cultural expression, especially his role in taking the Assamese language, folk traditions and contemporary music to national and international audiences.
He emphasized that Garg’s work helped firmly establish the cultural identity of Assam and the North-East on the artistic map of India.
Gogoi also mentioned the huge outpouring of public sentiment in Assam and North-East states following the artiste’s demise and said people from all walks of life have demanded a befitting national honor for the late musician.
He stressed that awarding Bharat Ratna to Zubeen Garg posthumously would be a fitting tribute to an artist whose lifelong work became an enduring part of India’s mixed cultural heritage and collective memory.
–IANS
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