An emotional tribute to late singer Zubeen Garg was paid on the stage of Sahitya Aaj Tak 2025, where Assam’s musicians Papon and Jubilee Barua shared memories of their time with him.
Speaking at the event, Papon said Zubeen always remained connected to his roots and that music was his life. He recalled an incident from 1998, when Zubeen continued working on a song at his studio a day after losing his mother. “That is the life of an artiste. The show must go on,” Papon said, adding that Zubeen spent his days and nights with music. He also mentioned that he himself had returned to touring just 14 days after his father’s death and understood the dedication Zubeen lived by.
Jubilee Barua, who frequently performed with Zubeen, spoke about his love for simple things, especially food from roadside stalls in Assam during the Bihu season. She said that even if the entire band ate at such shops, the bill would rarely exceed Rs 1,000, but Zubeen would often hand the vendor whatever money he had in his pocket, sometimes as much as Rs 10,000.
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She added that anyone who sought help from Zubeen never left disappointed. Whether it was sending an injured stranger from the road to the hospital and paying for the treatment, or taking responsibility for someone’s medical expenses, he supported countless people quietly.
At the end of the session, Papon and Jubilee Barua performed songs as a mark of respect, including the popular track Mayabini.
Sahitya Aaj Tak is a three-day literary festival taking place at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi from 21 to 23 November.
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