The iconic Assamese song “Pakhi Pakhi Ei Mon” has touched countless hearts for decades, but behind its soulful lyrics lies a personal story. The song was inspired by Zubeen Garg’s schoolmate, Junmoni Gogoi, now known as Junmoni Das. The two shared just a year together in Class 10 at Tamulpur Higher Secondary School in Assam, but those fleeting moments left a mark deep enough to inspire one of Zubeen’s most beloved creations.
Junmoni fondly remembers those days — the quiet exchanges of “hi” and “hello,” the combined classes where their paths crossed, and the Bihu function where Zubeen played the tabla while she and her friends sang. Though life took them in different directions after that year, she continued to watch Zubeen rise to fame, feeling a quiet pride every time she saw him on television or heard his name.
Speaking about his passing, Junmoni’s voice carries both sorrow and tenderness. She wishes justice for him and admits that the song might have been Zubeen’s way of expressing something unspoken. For her, “Pakhi Pakhi Ei Mon” is no longer just a song — it is a memory of youth, an echo of a friendship, and now, a reminder of a legend who will forever remain in the heart of Assam.
