When Assam’s heartthrob Zubeen Garg passed away, it was not just the loss of a singer—it marked the collapse of a cultural pillar. For two generations, Zubeen embodied the fearless, restless, and deeply Assamese spirit that oscillated between protest and poetry. His departure has placed Assam at a delicate intersection of emotion and politics, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (HBS) has assumed full responsibility for steering the final farewell.

Emotional Custody of an Icon

By flying to Delhi, appealing to the public for peace, and urging Zubeen’s wife Gorima to calm the fans, HBS is not merely fulfilling official duties. He is claiming emotional custody of Zubeen’s farewell. This personalization is deliberate: it positions the government as guardian rather than accused.

The Shadow of Power Brokers

Yet unease lingers beneath the choreography. Fans whisper that it was not the government as an institution but certain power brokers—close to political circuits and cultural event managers—who mishandled Zubeen, particularly during the North East Festival in Singapore. That event, meant to showcase regional pride abroad, became for him a moment of humiliation and over-exploitation. Such a narrative is dangerous: private anger at individuals can quickly morph into public confrontation with the state. In today’s hyper-emotional politics, even a rumor can spark unrest.

Security Perception

The government’s nervousness is evident. Assam remains a political tinderbox—unfinished ST demands, Bodo power plays, Miya identity debates, and the BJP’s own anxieties over Assamese pride. Against this backdrop, Zubeen’s funeral is not just a cultural event but a security challenge. Intelligence officials remember how Guwahati erupted during the anti-CAA protests, when streets that once celebrated Zubeen’s songs carried slogans of defiance. A massive congregation of grieving youth could again turn into an unpredictable storm.

The Semiotics of State Intervention

By taking charge, HBS is reading the semiotics of the moment. If he maintains calm, he writes himself into Assam’s history as the leader who honored Zubeen and preserved peace. If things go wrong, the same legacy may haunt him as negligence. His over-personalized intervention is both emotional insurance and political risk management.

Zubeen, the Youth and Political Anger

Zubeen was a cultural rebel who sang against injustice, mocked politicians, and stood with protesters during the anti-CAA movement. His fans—young, restless, and disillusioned—inherit that rebellious streak. They may mourn him quietly or channel his anger against today’s rulers. For HBS, the challenge is not merely to manage traffic or ceremonies, but to manage sentiment itself—far more volatile than crowds.

The Custodian of an Assamese Soul?

Zubeen Garg’s last journey is testing the government’s political maturity. By stepping in personally, HBS seeks to be seen as custodian of Assam’s cultural soul. Yet the undercurrent of suspicion around the Singapore festival and the lingering memory of Guwahati’s anti-CAA protests make this farewell more than a funeral. It is a moment where emotion and politics converge—and the spark of an icon’s memory could still ignite Assam’s streets.