The clouds of sorrow covered Assam after the news of former CM Tarun Gogoi’s demise spread. Gogoi, was battling for his life with Covid complications, gave up the battle recently. He is said to have died of multiple organ failure. State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the news.
Gogoi, a Congress stalwart, had tested positive for the coronavirus on August 25 and was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital the next day. He had recovered from COVID-19 and was discharged from the hospital after two months. The condolences began to pour in, once the news of his death was out. He was 84 years old. He is survived by wife & children.
He had also served six terms as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and had also served as an Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Food and Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Born on 1 April 1936 into an ethnic Assamese Tai-Ahom family at Rangajan Tea Estate, erstwhile Sibsagar District, Gogoi’s father, Kamaleshwar Gogoi was a medical practitioner at Rangajan Tea Estate and his mother, Usha Gogoi, was the younger sister of the Assamese poet Ganesh Gogoi.
A lawyer by profession, Gogoi began his political lessons as a member of the municipal board at Jorhat in 1968 before being elected to the Fifth Lok Sabha in 1971 from Jorhat. He represented Jorhat in Lok Sabha through the next two terms until 1985.
He also served as the President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) between 1986 and 1990, before being appointed as the President again in 1996.
He was elected Chief Minister of Assam in 2001, after leading the Indian National Congress to victory in the legislative assembly elections and led the party to a record three consecutive electoral victories in the state, emerging as the longest serving chief minister of the state in a tenure from 2001 through 2016Gogoi started his political career as a member of the municipal board at Jorhat in 1968 before being elected to the Fifth Lok Sabha in 1971 from Jorhat.
Condolences began pouring in after the news of Gogoi’s death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled his death and said he was a "popular leader and a veteran administrator".
"Shri Tarun Gogoi Ji was a popular leader and a veteran administrator, who had years of political experience in Assam as well as the Centre. Anguished by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti," he tweeted.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2020
President Ram Nath Kovind said Mr Gogoi will be remembered for developing Assam.
"Extremely sad to know of the demise of Shri Tarun Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam. The country has lost a veteran leader with rich political and administrative experience. His long tenure in office was a period of epochal change in Assam," he tweeted.
He will always be remembered for the development of Assam and especially towards his efforts to improve law and order and fighting insurgency in the state. His passing away marks the end of an era. In this hour of grief, condolences to his family, friends and supporters.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 23, 2020
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who had cancelled an official tour over Mr Gogoi's health on Monday, described him as a people's leader.
"Tarun Gogoi was a people's leader who had great contribution in Assam's political and public sphere. Even though we were in Opposition parties, we shared a wonderful rapport and he was a guiding figure. My deepest condolences to his family and well-wishers," he tweeted.
I express heartfelt condolences on the demise of the former Chief Minister, a tall leader & our most respected Tarun Gogoi da. It's the end of an era in Assam's public life. He was so vibrant and full of life until a few days back, couldn't believe this sad news.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 23, 2020
Om Shanti!
