Zubeen was 'Kohinoor of Assamese culture': PM Modi

GUWAHATI: PM Narendra Modi hailed Zubeen Garg as the "Kohinoor of Assamese culture " during his Mann Ki Baat radio address Sunday, while grief over the music icon 's death continued to sweep Assam.

Speaking partly in Assamese, Modi said: "Zubeen Garg asil oxomor xomoskritir ujjol ratna. Janotar hridayot teyo xodai jiyai thakibo," translating it as, "Zubeen was the Kohinoor of Assamese culture. Though he is physically gone, he will forever remain in our hearts." He called Garg's music a lasting gift to future generations.

Garg, 52, drowned while swimming in Singapore on Sept 19 and his death has plunged fans into mourning amid ongoing birth centenary celebrations of Assam's timeless legend Bhupen Hazarika .

The PM linked the loss to the centenary of Hazarika, recalling his presence at a Guwahati celebration on Sept 13 where 1,200 artistes performed a medley of the icon's songs.

On Sunday's broadcast, he played a Sri Lankan rendition of Hazarika's "Manuhe manuhor babey" translated into Sinhala and Tamil, calling it evidence of music's power to bind nations.

In Nagpur, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari invoked Garg's life to stress the supremacy of talent. Addressing a Charmakar Seva Sangh scholarship event where 505 students were felicitated, Gadkari said: "Crores of people paid their respects during Garg's final journey because he was talented, not because he had other privileges. No one becomes great due to caste, religion or gender. It's your talent and hard work alone which takes you to great heights."

(Inputs from Abhishek Choudhari in Nagpur)