Tarun Gogoi no more, an era ends; Three-day State mourning

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Former three-times Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi is no more. He breathed his last at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) at 5.34 pm on Monday after battling with post-COVID-19 complications.

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has told reporters that an electrocardiogram (ECG) done on Gogoi at 5.34 pm on Monday found that his heart had stopped functioning. "Under such circumstances, doctors at GMCH had to declare Tarun Gogoi dead. I am extremely sorry to inform this to the people of Assam. Doctors at GMCH did their best and left no stone unturned to save Gogoi," said Sarma, adding that the body of Tarun Gogoi will be kept at Srimanta Sankadeva Kalakshetra, Panjabari in the city from Tuesday to enable the public to pay their homage to the departed soul.

He further said that the former Chief Minister would be cremated with full State honours in Guwahati. He ruled out the possibility of taking Gogoi's body to his birth place in Jorhat due to the health issue of Dolly Gogoi — the wife of Tarun Gogoi.

On Sunday, the health condition of Tarun Gogoi continued to remain critical despite some positive signs like "spontaneous eye opening". But his condition further deteriorated on Monday with continuous fall in in blood pressure and worsening of other vital health parameters.

Gogoi was readmitted to the GMCH on late November 1 night due to post- COVID-19 complications and breathlessness. He had spent the past two months in the GMCH after he tested COVID-19 positive on August 26. He was discharged from the hospital on October 25.

The death of Gogoi — one of the veteran and popular politicians in the country — has cast a pall of gloom both in the ruling and Opposition camps across India. Both the Congress and the AGP have cancelled all party-related work and functions for the next three days to condole the death. After cancelling his scheduled official programmes on Monday, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flew back to Guwahati from Dibrugarh to be with Gogoi's family. "He has always been a father figure to me. I join millions in praying for his recovery," tweetedSonowal.

After paying homage to the departed soul at GMCH, Sonowal said that he went to meet Tarun Gogoi before taking the oath of Chief Minister in 2016. "I sought Gogoida's blessings to guide me. He told me not to be worried. He was an extremely fine human being. I even came to GMCH when he was undergoing treatment at GMCH. He told me that he will be fine soon," said Sonowal.

Sonowal announced that the State government would observe three-day State mourning in honour of TarunGogoi.

Leaders of both the ruling and Opposition brigade have termed Gogoi's death as the end of an era in politics in Assam. He led the Congress party to create the record of three consecutive electoral victories in Assam. He completed 15 consecutive years as Chief Minister of Assam on May 18, 2016. He was the longest-serving Chief Minister of the State.

Gogoi was born at Rangajan Tea Estate in Jorhat district. His official date of birth was April 1, 1936. He was the son of DrKamaleshwarGogoi and Usha Gogoi. His parents fondly called him Punakon (used affectionately for the youngest male child)

He began his primary education at the No. 26 Rangajan Nimna Buniyadi Vidyalaya. He studied at Jorhat Madrassa School up to Class-IV. At Bholaguri High School, he studied till Class-VI. He passed the Matric (HSLC) examination from Jorhat Government High School. He graduated from Jagannath Barooah College in Jorhat District and completed his LLB from Gauhati University.

Gogoi had an illustrious political career. He served six terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Lok Sabha constituencies — Jorhat and Kaliabor. He hogged the limelight in the national political arena after being elected Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1976 under the then Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi. Later, he served as General Secretary of the AICC (1985–90) under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He was in the Union Cabinet of India under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. He also served as the Union Minister of State in the Food Processing and Industry departments (1991–1996).

Gogoi, who was widely known for his easy-going, positive and ever-young attitude, leaves behind his wife Dolly Gogoi, son Gaurav Gogoi (now an MP), daughter Chandrima Gogoi, host of relatives, friends, fans and well-wishers. The social media is abuzz with condolence messages. "Tarun Gogoi was a statesman. His death has brought friends and foes together and that shows his personality and popularity. He will be hugely missed," said a Facebook user.

POLITICAL JOURNEY

1968 : Member, Municipal Board, Jorhat.

1968 : Member, Municipal Board, Jorhat.

1971 : Elected to 5th LokSabha.

1976 : Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee.

1977 : Re-elected to 6th LokSabha (second term).

1983 : Re-elected to 7th LokSabha (third term).

1983 : Joint Secretary All India Congress Committee (AICC-I).

1985 : General Secretary, All India Congress Committee (AICC-I).

1986-1990 : President, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC-I), Assam.

1991-1993 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Food.

1993-1995 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge). Ministry of Food Processing Industry.

1993-1995 : Member, Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA)

1997-1998 : Elected as Member of ALA.

1998-99 : Member, Committee on Government Assurances

1998-99 : Member, Committee on External Affairs.

1998-99 : Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

1998 : Re-elected to 12th LokSabha (fifth term).

1999 : Re-elected to 13th LokSabha (sixth term).

1999-2000 : Member, Committee on Railways.

May 18,2001: Assumed the Office of Chief Minister, Assam. (first term)

Sept-2001: Elected as Member of ALA.

May 11,2006: Elected as Member of ALA.

May 14,2006: Assumed the Office of Chief Minister, Assam (second term)

May 13,2011: Elected as Member of ALA.

May 18,2011: Assumed the Office of Chief Minister, Assam. (third term)

May 19, 2016: Elected as Member of ALA from Titabor

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