‘Shyamkanu did injustice to me too’: Artist Panna Burman recalls bitter experience, calls Zubeen’s death 100% negligence

Guwahati-based artist Panna Burman, a close friend of late singer Zubeen Garg for over three decades, has spoken out strongly in the wake of the arrest and 14-day SIT custody of Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma in connection with Zubeen’s death.

Burman, known for his portrait works of legends such as Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Amitabh Bachchan, and even Hollywood actor Kate Winslet, said he had also created a portrait of Zubeen himself and shared many personal and professional moments with the singer. 
Speaking emotionally, he said, “I was his friend for the last 30 years. I have drawn Zubeen’s portrait too. What happened to him was nothing short of 100 per cent negligence. The video that surfaced is evidence of this. I must thank the person who recorded it, otherwise, we would have never known what went wrong.”

Linking his own experience with Shyamkanu Mahanta to the ongoing case, Burman recalled an incident from the first edition of the North East Festival where he accompanied Zubeen. He alleged that Mahanta, who was organising the festival, denied him fair payment for his work. 

Also Read: Zubeen Garg dead probe on right track: Assam DGP Harmeet Singh

"I asked for payment like the rest of the artists, but Shyamkanu told me, ‘I will give you a one-way flight ticket, the rest you have magic in your hands — make people sit and draw portraits to earn money.’ This was an injustice,” Burman said.

The artist further revealed that only last month, Shyamkanu’s elder brother approached him to draw a portrait of their mother. “After I completed the work, he said, ‘This is not done.’ That was deeply insulting,” Burman added, expressing his disillusionment.

On the SIT taking Mahanta and Sharma into 14-day custody, Burman remarked that their accountability must be established in Zubeen’s case. 

“They were on duty with him, but neglected their responsibility. It is negligence that costs us a legend,” he said.

Burman’s voice adds to the growing chorus of public anger and demands for justice across Assam following the death of Zubeen Garg, whose stature as a cultural icon continues to resonate with people across generations.