1000 saplings in 3 days: Man’s homage to legend

Guwahati: As the state bid its final goodbye to Zubeen Garg on Tuesday, Anup Patkai, who hails from Assam’s Charaideo district, paid his tribute by planting 1,000 saplings of the ‘Sonaru’ (Cassia Fistula) tree, a symbolic gesture to honour the singer’s enduring legacy.Patkai, who belongs to the town of Sonari, said he completed the plantation drive within three days. “When I met Zubeen, I had shared this idea with him, and he was very happy about it. But after hearing the news of his passing, I was overcome with grief and immediately began planting the saplings on Friday. By Monday, the plantation drive was complete,” he added.He said the choice of planting the specific tree sapling was deliberate, not only because it is one of the native species, but also for its striking golden blossoms and medicinal properties.

“The Sonaru tree is known for its healing qualities. To me, Zubeen also embodied the same spirit, he was a healer through his music, his humanitarian work, and his love for nature, and this is my way of keeping his memory alive,” he added.The plantation covers a three-kilometer stretch, beginning from Khargoria Deodhai and extending up to Kochupathar within Disangpani village. Along this route, rows of saplings have been carefully planted, which will turn the landscape into a budding yellow corridor in the future.

Patkai says the garden will be known as ‘Zubeen Sonaru Bagicha’.Another reason Patkai chose the Sonaru tree was the inspiration he drew from one of Zubeen Garg’s much-loved Bihu songs, “Sonaru Phul Halodhiya.” He explained that the song not only carried the essence of Assamese tradition, but also celebrated the beauty and cultural significance of the golden Sonaru blossoms.