Zubeen Garg wished to be washed away in Brahmaputra after his last breath: ‘People should burn me there when I die’

In an interview with POP Pavelopedia in January, Zubeen spoke with raw honesty about his selfless nature and how he wished to spend his final days. “I am mad, I want to give everything of mine to people. Not for me. I am happy here. I have my studio, this is my home,” he said as he spoke from Assam.

He then spoke about a special place he held close to his heart—Tilla, likely referring to the Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre, also known as Borphukonar Tilla or Itakhuli Tilla.

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“It’s a good place. It is one of the best places. It will be a small bungalow. I will stay there and die there. People should burn me there when I die. Or you wash me up in the Brahmaputra. I am a soldier. I am like a Rambo,” he said.

It appears Zubeen envisioned a peaceful retirement at this historic site, perhaps in a modest bungalow overlooking the Brahmaputra—a place where he could eventually be laid to rest. The British-era Scottish-style bungalow, built in 1850, now serves as a cultural center.

Beyond his contributions to music and cinema, Zubeen Garg was known for his extensive humanitarian work. Through his charity—Kalaguru Artiste Foundation—he donated generously to various social causes. He regularly encouraged the public to contribute clothing, medicines, and financial support during floods in Assam. He even played charity football matches to raise funds for flood-affected communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zubeen offered his two-storey residence in Guwahati to be used as a COVID Care Centre, helping to address the urgent shortage of beds during the crisis.

On Saturday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the post-mortem had been completed in Singapore. Sharing an update on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “His mortal remains are now being handed over to the accompanying team—Shri Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Shri Sandeepan Garg, and Shri Siddharth Sharma (Manager)—in the presence of officers from the Indian Embassy.” The Chief Minister also informed the media that he would personally travel to Delhi to receive Zubeen’s body and accompany it back to Guwahati. “From there, we will immediately bring him back to Guwahati, hopefully by 6 am.”

Zubeen Garg’s funeral is expected to take place on Sunday, with thousands anticipated to pay their final respects to the cultural icon who touched countless lives through his art, activism, and compassion.