Guwahati: Amid widespread online outrage over a remark made by actor Jatin Bora’s daughter Aastha Bora about late singer Zubeen Garg, his wife Garima Saikia Garg and sister Palmee Borthakur have appealed for calm, urging fans not to direct anger at the young girl.
The controversy began after Aastha, while responding to a media query about Garg’s final film Roi Roi Binale, referred to the artist simply as “Zubeen” instead of the more respectful “Zubeen da.” Many admirers saw the informal address as disrespectful to the beloved icon, sparking a wave of criticism on social media.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Garima Saikia Garg defended Aastha, describing her as part of their extended family. “Please don’t blame or hold anger against her. These children were all like our own,” she wrote.
“Zubeen and I loved them deeply — Aastha and Geet (Jatin Bora’s children), Birina (Rajesh Bhuyan’s daughter), Dimi (Dipak Kashyap’s daughter), Chun-Chun (Raja Borah’s son), and Rahul and Rohan (Gautam Sharma’s sons). From the moment they were born, Zubeen would say, ‘These kids will be my friends when they grow up.’ He even taught them to call him Zubeen and me Garima,” she recalled.
Garima explained that these children had grown up closely with them, sharing meals, stories and memories. “If Aastha said something wrong in public, please understand it wasn’t intentional. She’s still learning. Please correct her gently and forgive her first,” she urged.
She ended her post with a poignant line: “Now we only need one answer — what really happened on September 19?” — referring to the day of Zubeen Garg’s untimely passing.
Zubeen’s sister, Palmee Borthakur, also echoed Garima’s sentiments, emphasising the bond Aastha shared with the singer. “Aastha, Jatin da’s daughter, was very dear to Zubeen da. Their generation called him Zubeen, not Zubeen da — that’s how closely he connected with the younger ones,” Palmee wrote.
“Let’s keep that innocent bond of love intact. If she unknowingly said something hurtful, guide her like an elder would — but please, don’t be angry,” she appealed.
