Ri Bhoi, USTM:  On Friday, September 26, 2025, just a week after Dr Zubeen Garg's untimely passing, which left the Assamese community and fans far beyond in profound sorrow, the University of Science and Technology (USTM)  hosted an all-religion prayer meeting that mirrored the artist's own boundless, inclusive worldview.

The prayer gathering started at 4 p.m., with the haunting melody of Zubeen's classic "Mayabini Ratir Bukut" filling the air. Students, faculty, and staff converged outdoors near the Central Auditorium, forming a diverse circle of mourners in front of a podium, where spiritual leaders from every corner of faith—Christian priests, pandits, imams, Sikh gurus, and more- united in prayer for the eternal peace of Zubeen's soul.

The Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Mahbubul Hoque, whose bond with Zubeen Garg ran deep—with his involvement in the university on different occasions, where also, the blockbuster film Mission China and another movie was shot right on USTM's grounds- delivered an emotional tribute, "Zubeen da forged connections that spanned the globe, the Northeast, and even our own USTM," he said "In the end, it's the impact that endures. He made it our duty, our moral responsibility, to nurture similar souls—people who inspire tears and love from every section of society. He's truly blessed to have earned such love through the lives he touched."

Chancellor Hoque went on to ponder the icon's legacy: "How can we carry it forward? In his final eight or nine months, he quietly supported two cancer patients, texting me that he would help. He never sought the spotlight. His only faith was humanity itself. Many NGOs and others want to carry his name in honour of him. Here at USTM, we want to do something for him in a very humble way." 

Adding to the depth of this connection, USTM in August 2024 bestowed upon Zubeen Garg an Honorary Doctorate for his extraordinary contributions to art, philanthropy, and society- a fitting crown for a man who lived as a true people's artist.

The campus resonated with fervent tributes. Students and faculty poured out their souls through soul-stirring songs and melancholic poems dedicated to Zubeen Garg. As the sun dipped low and dusk fell, diyas flickered to life across the grounds, the prayers hummed with a sense of solace.

The ceremony concluded with Zubeen da's own unifying words broadcast over the loudspeakers: a powerful reminder that humanity rises above all divides, urging everyone to embrace our shared existence as "all one." It was a fitting finale for the common people's man whose songs had strung deep, unbreakable ties to countless hearts.

In the aftermath, emotions ran high among the crowd.  In the wake of Zubeen Da's departure, this interfaith vigil offered closure; it ignited hope, strength, and a renewed commitment to his vision of unity. As the "people's man" journeys onward, his legacy of love and harmony runs strong like the Brahmaputra River.