Zubeen Garg’s Legacy—Songs in Assamese, Protests Against CAA, and a Heart for Che Guevara

The spontaneous outpouring of grief all over Assam at the demise of Zubeen Garg indicates that those who speak of love remain forever in the hearts of people. Assam has often been in the news for the wrong reasons, but few outside really know about the deep cultural connection and unity among its people. Zubeen was someone who opposed the CAA, spoke out against hatred, and refused the pull of Bombay cinema’s homogenising demands.

I don’t think the superstars of the tinsel world have that kind of dedicated fan following. It also shows the power of native languages. Let us not call them “regional,” as every language is a national language in its own domain.

Frankly speaking, I don’t watch or follow cinema or cricket, so I don’t comment on things around them. I watched old cinema, sang songs, and stopped following cricket after the late 1990s, when players became superstars and were being auctioned and purchased.

I saw a few clips of an anchor referring to Zubeen Garg as a Bollywood singer who became famous from a Ya Ali song. As I said, the Delhi-based overrated anchors push their nationalist agenda without understanding native issues. Every native is a national in their own land, so terming them “regional” is hypocrisy. A “celebrity anchor” was visibly shocked when Zubeen told her that he loved Socialism and his idol was Che Guevara.

Also, don’t start bringing your LIMCA book records for everything. These are ways that companies use to legitimise their actions. Facts are not merely numbers but the faces and feelings of people. No one can quantify them.

We all know very little about our world, and you won’t be able to understand even India by just watching idiotic and mediocre anchors defining things on their prime time. We must remember that hatred and fake news have an expiry date. Love conquers. The love and affection that Zubeen got is the result of his love for his roots. He remained natural, unfiltered, and totally in love with his land and people. This is the power of native language that connects.

Zubeen Garg’s role in the anti-CAA protests

Zubeen Garg was more than a popular singer; he was a cultural backbone during Assam’s anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) movement. From the moment the Bill was proposed, he allied with student organisations like the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and led peaceful protests. He helped mobilise youth, using his crowd-pulling power in public meetings, raising his voice in mass gatherings, and even joining hunger strikes with AASU to protest non-violently. The Assam Tribune

He repeatedly urged the protests to be conducted without bloodshed, insisted that legal avenues be pursued, and remained firm in his belief that the people of Assam would reject the CAA. In one public statement in March 2024, he said, “Protests against CAA should continue … wherever, however I can,” stressing that there should be no more deaths in the name of agitation. The Times of India

His admiration for Che Guevara and his socialist leanings

Zubeen Garg openly expressed his admiration for Che Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary. On his social media, he described himself as “Socialist” and said his idol was Che Guevara. Facebook While there is less detail in public records about precisely how deeply he studied Guevara’s life or ideology, this identification reflects Zubeen’s avowed political consciousness — not merely as a performer but as someone who saw societal struggles, who aligned with the underdog. His socialism wasn’t just rhetorical; it informed his public positions (against the CAA, for communal harmony) and shaped his identity among fans who expected more than just songs.