Jorhat : Assam’s “Forest Man” and Padma Shri awardee Jadav Payeng has expressed deep grief over the passing of Zubeen Garg, describing the late music legend as a kindred spirit and a man whose roots ran deep into the soil and soul of Assam.

Payeng recalled his first encounter with a young Zubeen during his college days in Jorhat. “He would often cycle to the Brahmaputra sandbars near Kokilamukh, close to my home. Sitting on the sands, he’d hum softly to himself, lost in his own rhythm. Even then, music flowed through him like a river,” he said.

He fondly remembered Zubeen’s visits to his village and his warmth toward Mising culture. “He once tasted our Apong and loved it. After that, he sang a few tunes with that same joyful spirit,” Payeng smiled.

According to Payeng, Zubeen’s bond with nature was instinctive. “He wasn’t just a musician. He was a son of Assam—rooted in its land, culture, and spirit,” he reflected.

Payeng also spoke of Zubeen’s environmental awareness, recalling their conversations during the singer’s 50th birthday celebration in Jorhat, which he had inaugurated. “Zubeen cared deeply about the earth. He believed in planting trees and urged others to do the same. He was an artist with a conscience,” Payeng said.

Struggling to contain his emotions, the environmentalist compared Zubeen’s death to losing a part of himself. “Zubeen was like my right hand. Now it feels as if that hand has been torn away,” he said quietly. “He never cared for money or fame. I’ve met many artists, even Bhupen Hazarika, but Zubeen’s honesty and emotional depth were unique.”

Payeng lamented that Zubeen didn’t receive all the recognition he deserved in life. “But in his passing, he brought Assam together. People from every community, tribe, and caste mourned him as one. That’s the strength of his soul,” he said.

He ended with a heartfelt proposal to honour Zubeen’s memory: “Let forests grow in his name across Assam. Let trees rise where his songs once echoed. That will be our living tribute to him.”