Guwahati, Jan 31: Assam Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, be conferred posthumously on late singer and composer Zubeen Garg, a prominent cultural icon of the Northeast.

In his letter dated January 30, Gogoi described Garg’s sudden and tragic death as a significant loss to Assam and the wider Northeastern region, leaving a cultural void that would be hard to fill. He highlighted Garg’s widespread influence, noting that his creative contributions transcended regional boundaries and resonated nationally and internationally.

Gogoi recalled raising the demand for national recognition for Garg in Parliament on December 3, 2025, and writing to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on December 4, 2025, seeking clarity and accountability regarding the circumstances of Garg’s death during a Government of India cultural engagement abroad.

Emphasizing Garg’s role in promoting Assamese language, folk traditions, and contemporary music on global platforms, Gogoi said the musician’s work had firmly established Assam and the Northeast on India’s cultural map. He also noted the strong public sentiment across the region calling for a national honour to commemorate the late artist.

Gogoi stressed that a posthumous Bharat Ratna would serve as a fitting tribute to Garg, whose life and work have become an enduring part of India’s cultural heritage.