Nothing felt right. After so many years, life suddenly felt void and vulnerable. This noon, I saw the person, who taught us to live carefree, vanish into fumes. I saw the same feeling reflected on thousands of other faces at the cremation ground at Zubeen Kshetra. We lost the guardian who kept the rebellion inside our souls alive.

In the evening, we gathered among friends — perhaps to mourn, perhaps to share stories about Zubeen Da, or perhaps simply because we all felt lonely at home. My friend Anupam mentioned that he has a WhatsApp group of old colleagues, where one of the members suggested that everyone do something positive in memory of Zubeen Da. Anupam showed us a beautiful painting by one member, and an English poem by another. The poem was so beautiful — and astonishingly, it was the first poem ever written by that person. A first poem written in his early forties. Only Zubeen Da could inspire a man to discover the poet within himself, unnoticed for 40 years. Can we all not take inspiration from Zubeen Da’s life to work more on our skills and do amazing things in life? Zubeen Da was a rebel, a carefree man — but he was also deeply professional. Not everyone can sing 38,000 songs in thirty years. Can we all not try to shine in our own ways? Even if some of us live up to just 10 percent of what Zubeen Da has achieved— by becoming poets, painters, singers, composers, filmmakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, scientists — will it not make Assam proud? Will it not be a tremendous tribute to our Zubeen Da?

During the last few days, I noticed something remarkable — every man and boy seemed so humble, empathetic, and compassionate. No one honked in traffic, people offered water to passersby, cars stopped to give ways to pedestrians, the usual fast riders were riding calmly. At tribute gatherings, someone would pass you the mic or the guitar. In the crowd, women were given priority for space and comfort. Strangers greeted one another and became friends. This is the power of a great yet humble artist. No one wanted to hurt the departed soul of Dada by creating any disturbance. Everyone wanted this mega event to be a festival of love, peace, and humanity — and each person acted like a host. All took responsibility. I saw young boys and girls voluntarily cleaning up water bottles after the funeral. Can we not always be such good citizens, setting an example for the entire nation? Zubeen Da was straightforward and rebellious, yet he was also a well-mannered gentleman. Can we not make this one last — but lasting — tribute by becoming a state full of well-mannered people, bringing glory to the very name of Assam?

Zubeen Da was a universal lover. He paid the fees of students, covered medical bills for the needy, allowed random strangers to stay in his house, offered his home to be turned into a COVID care centre, fed stray animals, sat and interacted with homeless people, was a friend to countless street vendors, and spoke to strangers and fans as if he had known them forever. Was he an idle man? Not at all. He was one of the busiest artists in the nation — singing songs in 10 languages, making films, writing cult songs and movie scripts, attending events. And yet, he chose — in Robert Frost’s words — to pause, “to watch the woods — lovely, dark and deep.” Are we busier than him? He had ten lakh visitors in his last journey. Should we not have at least a few hundred in ours? Zubeen Da inspires us to take that much-needed pause every now and then — to look back and see whether that old friend we used to sit and talk with for hours, that Pehi (aunt) who used to knit woollen sweaters for us, that shopkeeper uncle who gave us a toffee for free, that schoolteacher who was once deeply invested in our success — are keeping well. Do we need a better example than Zubeen Da to learn the art of living a happy life?

Zubeen Da cherished nature deeply. Can we not urge the government to take seriously the wish of perhaps the greatest Assamese of the century? I have seen people planting trees in his memory — in random public places and on their private land. But one crucial element is missing in these efforts: the right of that tree to the very land it stands on — to exist for eternity. It is time the government takes concrete steps to demarcate every piece of government land — be it a national park, a wildlife sanctuary, a reserve forest, a grazing land, or any other type — by installing physical demarcations and through precise digital mapping. Let a government official — a Forest Range Officer, a Block Development Officer, an Executive Engineer, a School Teacher, or any other designated person — be made exclusive in-charge of a piece of government land throughout their career, regardless of where they are posted. Would we allow our private plot in Guwahati to be encroached upon simply because we are posted in Karbi Anglong? No. Similarly, let each official be entrusted with a piece of land as if it were their own property. Let them develop a personal connection and love for it. Let encroachment be stopped at the very first bamboo pole. Let poachers face immediate consequences the moment they set foot on protected land without permission — by empowering these officials and instilling in them a deep sense of responsibility. Then, open these lands to the public — not to exploit, but to bring life to them. Let communities create forests of nahar (Mesua ferrea) and other native trees. Let Zubeen Da’s dream of a great Nahar Forest become a living reality.

Last but not least, let us all speak our hearts out — like Zubeen Da. Did he spare the Leftist or the Rightist? The government or the opposition? The young or the old? And yet, was he not loved by all? This is because he always spoke honestly, without bias, without an agenda. He never chose a side — he chose the truth. Let us dare to do the same – to start speaking about what you, and even if only you, feel is right. Speak for and against ideologies, political parties, leaders, journalists, colleagues, bosses, family members, friends and anyone else — but speak with honesty. Learn to appreciate even the smallest good deed by anyone, and learn to condemn every act of wrongdoing — even by the most powerful. When it comes to speaking the truth, just think about the ‘Thumb’ Zubeen Da always referred to.

I cannot stop thinking and writing about the man who shaped the way we think, the way we romance, the way we grieve, rejoice, sing, and wonder — from the days of our childhood to our middle ages, from Maya to Dhulikona. But this is it for today. In the end, I truly feel that Zubeen Da’s life reached its highest peak at the very moment he left this world. — becoming larger than kings, leaders, and intellectuals — just as we always say: Jay Zubeen Da! Let us all strive to make that greatness even bigger by working to fulfill his dreams.