Artist Marshall Baruah has once again come into public focus after redrawing an erased portrait of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg beneath the Ganeshguri flyover in Guwahati on Thursday. The development comes even as a court has summoned the artist and directed him to appear on June 25 in connection with an ongoing case.
Marshall Baruah had earlier been arrested on allegations related to drawing objectionable images. However, he was subsequently granted bail. The court has now directed him to appear before it later this month as legal proceedings in the matter continue.
The artist attracted widespread attention after recreating a mural of Zubeen Garg that had previously been removed from a flyover pillar in Ganeshguri. The original artwork, painted by Marshall, featured a portrait of the singer along with the words “Comrades Never Die.” Its removal had triggered strong reactions from members of the public and the cultural community.
Prior to repainting the mural, Marshall had publicly announced his intention to recreate the artwork at the same location on June 18. However, he later alleged that Guwahati Police contacted him and advised him not to proceed with repainting the portrait at the site.
According to the artist, he received a phone call from police officials warning him against drawing the mural again. Despite the alleged warning, Marshall returned to the location on Thursday and redrew the portrait, bringing the issue back into public discussion.
The controversy surrounding the mural has generated significant public interest. Following the removal of the original artwork, many citizens expressed disappointment over the decision. Marshall himself had criticized the erasure of the painting, while Garima Garg, wife of Zubeen Garg, also expressed sadness over the removal of the portrait.
The issue emerged at a time when Guwahati has been undergoing a large-scale beautification drive ahead of the proposed visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to Assam. As part of the initiative, authorities have been carrying out road repairs, drainage reconstruction, repainting of public infrastructure and cleaning operations across different parts of the city.
