Did you know before Zubeen Garg, his sister also died in an accident decades ago?

The news of Zubeen Garg's death during a sea outing in Singapore evoked memories of another family tragedy—the passing of his sister, Jonkey Borthakur, in a car accident 23 years prior. Jonkey Borthakur, an 18-year-old aspiring actress and singer, died in January 2002 while traveling with her siblings to a stage show near Tezpur in Assam's Sonitpur district. Their car collided head-on with a truck on a rain-soaked highway in Balipara, approximately 180 km north of Guwahati. Jonkey Borthakur and a close friend of Zubeen Garg were killed instantly, leaving a void that deeply impacted the family.

Zubeen Garg, who had changed cars shortly before the accident, was uninjured but profoundly affected. The loss, which he later termed "survivor's guilt," became a pivotal moment in his music and personal life. This experience significantly influenced his creative expression and outlook.

Born into an artistic family—their mother, Ily Borthakur, was a dancer and vocalist—Jonkey Borthakur and Zubeen Garg frequently performed together on stage. Jonkey Borthakur's film career was gaining momentum with her role in the Assamese hit Tumi Mor Mattu Mor when her life was tragically cut short. This promising start was abruptly halted by her untimely passing.

The tragedy deeply affected Zubeen Garg. Months later, he channeled his sorrow into the emotional album Xixhu (Sishu), a sincere homage to his sister. The album's songs combined folk melodies with raw themes of loss and resilience. "She was my shadow, my co-singer," Zubeen Garg once said, crediting Jonkey Borthakur's memory for his enduring bond with Assamese music.

Tributes pour in for Assam's musical legend Zubeen Garg, who passed away in a scuba diving accident in Singapore. Fans flooded social media, sharing memories and performances to honor his legacy. Garg's soulful voice and contributions to Indian music will be deeply missed, inspiring future generations of artists.

Zubeen, a multi-instrumentalist proficient in 12 instruments including the anandalahari, dhol, and guitar, was Assam's highest-paid singer and a celebrated musician. He married Garima Saikia, a fashion designer from Golaghat, Assam, on February 4, 2002.