Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday stressed that Zubeen Garg’s legacy should be celebrated through his music, art, and creative works—not through alcohol.

Speaking about the proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Zubeen Khetra, the upcoming memorial dedicated to the late singer, Sarma said the state must decide how it wants to remember one of its greatest cultural icons.

“Will we keep Zubeen Garg alive through music or through alcohol?” Sarma asked. “Some unruly people want to keep him alive through alcohol, but the 3.5 crore people of Assam want to celebrate him through his musical creations.”

The Chief Minister argued that while a few voices associate Zubeen’s memory with alcohol, the vast majority of his admirers wish to honor him through his songs, the nahar flower, and other Assamese cultural symbols.

He clarified that indigenous communities consuming traditional drinks should not be equated with alcohol consumption. “Some have argued that indigenous people also drink alcohol.

But indigenous communities do not drink alcohol; they consume heritage drinks like Xaaj, Apong, or Rohi, which are part of cultural traditions. These drinks are served to celebrate culture, unlike whisky or rum, which require government permission to sell,” he said.

Sarma urged fans to support the government’s plan to build a grand memorial that could serve as a “temple or pilgrimage site” to commemorate Zubeen’s contributions to Assam’s culture.

However, the statement drew sharp criticism from Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who accused the government of trying to interfere with traditional practices of paying tribute.

“We will not allow any interference with traditional rites while paying tribute to Zubeen Garg,” Gogoi said. “Offering traditional tributes, including those involving alcohol, is part of our cultural right. The Chief Minister should respect these customs instead of undermining them.”

The debate reflects a larger conversation in Assam about how best to honor Zubeen Garg’s memory—through the art he created or the rituals that have long been part of the region’s cultural fabric.

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