Guwahati: All the revenue earned from singer Zubeen Garg’s unedited conversation on noted writer Dr Rita Choudhury’s podcast will be kept in a fixed deposit for 20 years, and the interest earned from it will be used to encourage emerging artists.
Dr Rita Choudhury announced this at a press conference held in Guwahati. She said the step honours Zubeen Garg’s lifelong contribution to promoting young talent in Assam and beyond.
“The last podcast I recorded with Zubeen Garg has crossed more than three million views on YouTube. It earned USD 2,909, and the entire amount will be placed in a fixed deposit for 20 years. The interest will be used to support upcoming artists,” Dr Choudhury said.
Brahmaputra Literary Festival 2026 in Sivasagar
The press conference was organised by socio-cultural organisation Aadharshila. Dr Choudhury, Director of Aadharshila, also announced that the Brahmaputra Literary Festival 2026 will be held from February 6 to 8 in Sivasagar, one of Assam’s most historic towns.
The festival will be organised on the theme “Rhythm, Words and Art: Celebration of the Human Voice.” It will bring together literature, music and art on one platform.
Writers, poets, musicians, thinkers and artists from across India, neighbouring countries and other parts of the world will take part in the festival. Several programmes on literature and culture will be held at heritage locations in Sivasagar.
Cultural Events and Youth Programmes
The festival will feature poetry sessions, art and architecture exhibitions, youth workshops, panel discussions, music talks, live concerts and folk culture performances. During the festival days, Sivasagar will turn into a hub of creativity and cultural exchange.
The pre-festival events will be held in Gauripur, focusing on the contributions of Raja Prabhat Chandra Barua, Pramathesh Barua, and the women of the royal family to Assam’s art and culture.
The festival will also include tributes to Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his birth centenary and a special homage to Zubeen Garg.
Focus on Indigenous Culture
The organisers said the festival will give special importance to the Bodo and Mishing communities, highlighting their traditions, art and cultural identity. The event will also focus on tribal heritage, indigenous cultures, language diversity and traditional storytelling.
