Guwahati, September 20: The sudden and tragic death of Assam’s legendary singer Zubeen Garg has shaken the cultural and political corridors of the state. As the people of Assam mourn their “Heartthrob of Northeast,” serious questions are now being raised about the circumstances leading to his death and the role of event organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, best known for hosting the Northeast Festival.
Cruise Party or Business Meet?
Reports suggest that Zubeen Garg was taken to a cruise party abroad, where he eventually collapsed and passed away. Shyamkanu Mahanta has publicly stated that the gathering was a business meeting with senior Singaporean industrialists and policymakers, claiming it was part of an effort to bring investments to Assam.
But critics are questioning: Was Mahanta officially authorized by the Assam Government to represent the state and negotiate with international business leaders?
Government Authorization Under Scanner
Till now, there has been no official statement from the Assam Government confirming any authorization for Shyamkanu Mahanta to act as a representative in business summits or industrial meetings. If true, this raises concerns about private individuals conducting foreign outreach under the garb of government endorsement, while using cultural icons like Zubeen Garg to legitimize their events.
Northeast Festival and Bangkok Chapter
Shyamkanu Mahanta’s flagship project, the Northeast Festival, is promoted as a platform to showcase Northeastern culture, music, and entrepreneurship. Zubeen Garg was repeatedly invited as the face of these events.
Earlier, the same festival was organized in Bangkok, Thailand, with promises of boosting trade and investment between Northeast India and Southeast Asia. However, questions remain: What tangible business deals were actually brought back to Assam and the region?
Culture, Publicity, and Funds in Question
Observers allege that such events have become a cycle of cultural branding, government endorsements, heavy publicity, and flow of funds, with little accountability on outcomes. The tragic involvement of Zubeen Garg in this episode has now ignited calls for a serious probe into the true objectives of these so-called cultural summits.
Public Sentiment and Demand for Inquiry
The people of Assam are now demanding:
- A transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to Zubeen Garg’s death.
- Clarification from the Assam Government on whether Shyamkanu Mahanta was given any mandate to discuss business with foreign investors.
- A white paper on the impact of past festivals, including the Bangkok edition, and their contributions to the region’s development.
For millions of fans, Zubeen Garg was not just a singer but the soul of Northeast India’s cultural identity. His untimely death has cast a long shadow on the credibility of privately-driven cultural diplomacy masked as economic summits.
