The tragic and untimely death of the Assam popular music icon, Zubeen Garg, in a scuba diving accident in Singapore has rocked the state but the sorrow is fast transforming into violent rage against an entrepreneur, Shyamkanu Mahanta. Mahanta is under the microscope of the people and accused of negligence because he is the person who organized the Northeast India Festival (NEIF) upon which Garg had been invited and was to perform.
The original story provided by the NEIF team that Garg died in a scuba diving accident was later refuted by Mahanta himself, who said that the singer was on a private yacht trip which was organized by the local Assamese community and the organizers knew nothing about it. Such a contradictory account has continued to generate more anger among supporters who have wondered how the organizers of this festival can find themselves in a situation where they have lost track of their key guest.
Social media and the street protests in Assam are now seeking responsibility and even justice, claiming that the team of Shyamkanu Mahanta treated the artist as a business commodity and not a cultural figure, and that the festival being centered on promoting investments might have put the singer under undue pressure. The scandal points to a larger social disillusionment with the commercialization of the local culture and the lack of concern for the welfare of their icons.
Public Outcry and Calls for Accountability
The outrage of the people is a direct consequence of the alleged differences in the official versions of the death of Zubeen Garg. The fans are also wondering how NEIF could be so unaware of the activities of the singer in Singapore given that he was led by Shyamkanu Mahanta.
The story that the priorities of the festival were misplaced has been supported by the fact that the Mahanta team was said to be having a meeting with business and Garg was having a trip on a yacht. The social consensus is obvious: they think that a higher level of care should have been taken, due to the health problems Garg experienced recently. This anger has been transferred into mass demands to investigate it, and an FIR filed against Mahanta.
The Business of Culture and Public Trust
This tragic incident has brought about a very significant debate on the convergence of culture and business. Shyamkanu Mahanta has already placed Northeast India Festival as a stage to promote the culture of the region in addition to drawing investment.
The scandal highlights a very weak bar of trust between the masses and cultural managers, especially when it has to do with a legendary figure like Zubeen Garg. The thirst of the people to obtain justice can be regarded as the urge to preserve the cultural heritage and make sure that artists do not become brand representatives of commercial activities.
A recent media graduate, Bhumi Vashisht is currently making a significant contribution as a committed content writer. She brings new ideas to the media sector and is an expert at creating strategic content and captivating tales, having working in the field from past four months.
