Ariful Islam/Guwahati

Over a month after iconic singer Zubeen Garg died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore, engulfing Assam with mass grief, the people continue to pay tributes to his memory by raising memorials and holding prayers for him.

One of them is renowned sculptor Nuruddin Ahmed, who used his art and money to express his love for Zubeen Da, as the people's singer is called. The Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Ahmed presented a grand, full-body statue of Zubeen Garg, made of fiberglass and marble dust, as a tribute to him.

Generally, big statues like the one created by Ahmed should cost over one lakhs rupees. However, Nuruddin Ahmed made it out of his love for the singer in just 18 days. Ahmed gave himself a shorter deadline to complete the statue so that it could be installed on October 19, one month after his death.

This is the first statue of Zubeen Garg. The full-length sculpture of the Humming King was unveiled at the Forensic Science Laboratory grounds in Kahilipara on October 19, coinciding with the ceremony of his month-end shraddh (memorial service).

Talking to Awaz - The Voice, Nuruddin Ahmed said, "I made this at my own expense. Zubeen Garg and I are from the same area and lived together. I never imagined that I would have to sculpt a statue of Zubeen Garg in my lifetime. Though we lived close by, he was much younger than I was. He used to address me as an elder brother. Since people of all faiths and communities live together in our Kahilipara area, we thought of organising interfaith prayers for the departed soul.

"As part of it, I discussed with my eldest son, and we decided to make a statue of Zubeen. We started the work on October 3 and completed it in 18 days. I love Zubeen very much. So I made it at my own expense. I’ll present it to Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg.”

He said that he would request Garima Saikia Garg to choose a public place of her choice - other than a government establishment - to install the statue.

Normally, Nuruddin Ahmed takes one to one-and-a-half months to make such sculptures.

Dhruvajyoti Sharma of the Kahilipara area said: "The statue of our revered artist Zubeen Garg was erected here with the initiative of our beloved uncle Nuruddin Ahmed. The statue was unveiled in the presence of all the people of Kahilipara on the occasion of his month-end shraddh (memorial service). At a time when we are mourning, we are thankful to brother Nuruddin Ahmed, whose golden touches created such a beautiful statue of Zubeen Garg. Countless people participated in the statue unveiling ceremony. Though we are holding a memorial to pay tributes to our beloved artist, we have not forgotten that justice is yet to be done in his case."

The statue was officially unveiled by Khagen Gogoi, an exponent of Tukari Geet (a folk song of Neo-Vaisnavite culture), whom Zubeen Garg had taken as his brother. Holding a guitar in one hand, a microphone in the other, and with a gamocha (scarf) wrapped around his head, the full-body statue of the immortal talent stands tall and high.

Unveiling the sculpture, Khagen Gogoi said, "I am grateful to unveil the statue created at his own expense by the distinguished sculptor Ahmed. The statue has been unveiled in line with the grand memorial service held with the initiative of the people of Kahilipara. Zubeen Garg remains in my heart. I shared love and playful moments with Zubeen. Therefore, I am overwhelmed to unveil his first full-body statue after his death.”

Participating in the statue unveiling ceremony, prominent music director Sadananda Gogoi said, "Zubeen Garg will live forever among the people. It is unfortunate for the Assamese community that we lost the heartthrob artiste untimely and midway." He believes that artistes of Zubeen Garg's calibre are born only once in hundreds of years. His death is a great loss to the community.

Garima Saikia Garg at her husband's memorial service

The unveiling ceremony was attended by veteran actor Pranjal Saikia, music director Dr Hitesh Barua and several dignitaries and prominent citizens of Kahilipara.

On the day, an all-faith prayer meet where, Bhagwat Path, Quran recitation, Guru Granth Sahib Path, Biblerecitation, Dihanaam (devotional song), Gayan-Bayan (folk art), Bargeet  and Tukari Geet (Neo-Vaishnavite folk song), Zikir (Islamic devotional song) and women'sDihanaam (devotional song by women) were performed.

The Forensic Science Laboratory's ground atmosphere was filled with the sounds of blowing the conch. Zubeen Garg’s immortal creation ‘Mayabini Ratir Bukut …’ was performed as a chorus.

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In the evening, the residents of Kahilipara lit earthen lamps (diya) in front of their houses and business establishments to pay tribute to the great artiste. The residents of Kahilipara paid tribute to Zubeen Garg at the call of Shradhanjali – Zubeen Coordination Committee chief coordinator Dr Rajendranath Khound, Hiranya Kumar Bora, Nuruddin Ahmed, and coordinator Dharmeshwar Phukan.