Meet Zubeen Garg’s Siblings: Palme Borthakur and Jongki Borthakur

Zubeen Garg (born Zubeen Borthakur on November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya, India – died September 19, 2025, in Singapore) was a celebrated Indian singer, composer, actor, and filmmaker, best known for his work in Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi music.

His career spanned more than three decades, during which he became one of Northeast India’s most influential cultural icons.

Born into an Assamese Brahmin family, Zubeen rejected religious and caste identities, often describing himself as irreligious—without caste, religion, or God.

His upbringing, however, was deeply artistic. His father, Mohini Mohan Borthakur (a magistrate, poet, and lyricist who wrote under the pen name Kapil Thakur), and his mother, Ily Borthakur (a singer, dancer, and actress), nurtured his love for music.

Zubeen began singing at the age of three, learning from his mother, before dedicating 11 years to tabla training under Pandit Robin Banerjee and studying Assamese folk traditions under Guru Ramani Rai.

Raised mainly in Jorhat, Assam, due to his father’s job transfers, Zubeen grew up with two sisters: Jonkie Borthakur, a singer-actress who tragically died in a car accident in 2002, and Palme Borthakur, who pursued an academic career as a geography professor. Their bond reflected the family’s artistic spirit and resilience.

For education, Zubeen studied science at J.B. College and Karimganj College (1990–1992), later enrolling at B. Borooah College in Guwahati for a B.Sc. degree, though he left before graduating to follow his musical ambitions.

Standing 5 feet 8 inches (172 cm) tall, Zubeen was named after the legendary conductor Zubin Mehta and went on to become a household name in India. He gained international recognition with hits like “Ya Ali” from Gangster (2006), while also recording thousands of songs across more than 40 languages, from Assamese folk to Bollywood blockbusters.

On the personal front, Zubeen married Garima Saikia Garg, a fashion designer from Golaghat, Assam, on February 4, 2002. Their love story began when she wrote him a fan letter, eventually overcoming her father’s opposition. The couple remained married until his passing, though they had no children. Before meeting Garima, Zubeen openly acknowledged having multiple relationships.

Tragically, Zubeen’s life ended on September 19, 2025, at the age of 52, when he drowned in a scuba diving accident in Singapore. His death marked the loss of one of India’s most soulful and versatile voices, leaving behind a legacy rooted not only in his music but also in the creative spirit of the Borthakur family, whose contributions to art, performance, and scholarship remain indelible.

Palme Borthakur

As the youngest sibling and surviving sister, Dr. Palme Borthakur has emerged as the quiet pillar of the family, channeling her energies into academia rather than the footlights.

A respected geography professor at a private university in Guwahati, Palme‘s life is a testament to intellectual rigor and quiet fortitude. Her expertise in human geography and environmental studies has made her a valued educator, influencing generations of students in Assam’s academic circles.

Palme, the sister, took on a central role following her brother Zubeen‘s untimely death on September 19, 2025, in a scuba diving accident off Singapore’s coast.

At 52, Zubeen—attending the Northeast India Festival—succumbed despite rescue efforts, leaving Palme as the sole surviving sibling. In the days that followed, she coordinated funeral arrangements with composure, citing her 85-year-old father’s frail health and the emotional weight of rituals far from home.

“We can hardly do anything now except be each other’s strength,” a family uncle shared, highlighting Palme‘s role in supporting her grieving father and Zubeen‘s wife, fashion designer Garima Saikia Garg. Her steady presence has been a source of solace, underscoring a life dedicated not to applause, but to quiet service and knowledge.

Though less in the public eye than her brother Zubeen or sister Jongki, Palme‘s bond with her siblings was evident in Zubeen‘s occasional tributes to family, reflecting a shared pride in their Assamese roots.

Jongki Borthakur

If Zubeen, the brother, was the family’s enduring voice, Jongki Borthakur—often spelled Jonkey or Jonki—was its sparkling spark, a young sister whose talent was cruelly cut short.

Born around 1984, Jongki was Zubeen‘s younger sister and a mirror to his artistic fire. Like her mother, Ily, she was a multifaceted performer: a singer whose melodies complemented her brother Zubeen‘s harmonies, an actress who graced Assamese television serials, and a dancer whose grace lit up stages.

Jongki, the sister, saw her career blossom by her late teens. She appeared in films like Tumi Mur Mathu Mur (2000), Daag (2001), and Jonaki Mon (2002), earning acclaim for her emotive portrayals. Off-screen, she and her brother Zubeen often performed together at cultural events, their sibling synergy captivating audiences across Assam.

Fans recall her as a “gifted singer and actor” whose energy promised a bright future in the regional entertainment scene. Tragedy struck on January 12, 2002, near Balipara in Assam’s Sonitpur district. Jongki, then just 18 (though some reports cite 20 or 26, reflecting discrepancies in records), was en route to a stage show in Sootea—ironically, one organized by her brother Zubeen.

Traveling with co-artists, her vehicle collided head-on with a truck, claiming her life along with a close friend of Zubeen‘s. Zubeen, who had planned to ride with his sister, switched cars mere minutes before, sparing him but amplifying his guilt and grief.

The accident, described by locals as a “cold January winter” horror, shattered the family just as Ily Borthakur‘s influence lingered. The loss of his sister Jongki profoundly shaped Zubeen, the brother. He channeled his sorrow into music, releasing the poignant album Xixhu later that year as a tribute to her—its tracks a haunting elegy for the sister who “followed in the footsteps of her mother.”

Zubeen frequently honored her memory in performances and social media posts, once marking what would have been her 36th birthday in 2020 with a heartfelt reflection. “Her demise has changed Zubeen Garg‘s life for the worse,” one observer noted, linking it to his struggles with alcoholism and a more introspective artistry.

Jongki‘s spirit, however, lived on in her brother Zubeen‘s songs, a reminder of the sister who burned brightly but briefly.