Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, who passed away in a tragic scuba-diving accident in Singapore, was born Jubin Borthakur in 1972 into a family rooted in Jorhat, Upper Assam – a land of lush tea gardens and paddy fields. He spent his early childhood in Arunachal Pradesh, where his love for music first took shape.
His father, Kapil Thakur, served as a magistrate and was an avid reader, while his mother, Ily Borthakur, was a singer and the source of Zubeen’s passion for music. He was named after the renowned composer Zubin Mehta, reflecting the family’s musical inclinations. Music ran in the family; his younger sister, Jongki Borthakur, was also a singer.
Tragedy struck in 2002 when Jongki died in a car accident, a loss that profoundly affected Zubeen. The incident changed his life forever, and he became less concerned with his public persona, focusing instead on his art. The Borthakur family’s story has been marked by both musical brilliance and personal sorrow, underscoring the resilience behind Zubeen Garg’s celebrated career.
