Guwahati: Tarun Gogoi, aged 8Assam Christian ForumAssam Christian Forum4, former Assam Chief Minister for three terms and a senior Congress leader passed away while undergoing post-COVID treatment on Monday. Gogoi was the MLA from the Titabor assembly constituency since 2001. He was also a six-time Parliamentarian and a Union minister twice. He is survived by his wife Dolly Gogoi, daughter Chandrima Gogoi and son Gaurav Gogoi.
Gogoi was born on April 1, 1936 at Rangajan Tea Estate located in the Jorhat district of Assam as the son of Dr Kamaleshwar Gogoi, a medical practitioner and Usha Gogoi.
Gogoi, a lawyer by profession, made his debut in electoral politics in 1968, winning a place in the municipal board. He was chosen by Indira Gandhi to lead the Youth Congress in 1971, and grew up to be a close confidant of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and was Union minister twice between 1991and 1995. He was also a member of the fifth, sixth, seventh, tenth, twelfth and thirteenth Lok Sabha.
When he took charge as first time Chief Minister, Assam was at a crucial period of history; insurgency was at its top, ruthless killings were common, development works had come to a halt. Gogoi boldly changed all that in his 15 years as the chief minister. There were some disturbances, however, he dealt with them with statesmanship.
Recollecting the numerous interactions, he had with Tarun Gogoi, Archbishop (Emeritus) Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati said, “He has done a great deal for peace, development of Assam, brought together different communities and was a humble statesman.”
In a condolence message by Mr.Allen Brooks, the spokesperson of Assam Christian Forum (ACF), stated that “the Christian Community of Assam along with the rest of India, expresses its deepest sorrow and offer its condolences at the sad demise of former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi. We wish to express that in his passing away, we have lost a valuable friend and an adherent supporter. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul and wish to express our solidarity with the family members.”
ACF held a condolence prayer at Christ Church Guwahati on Monday. Rt. Rev. Michael Herenz Bishop of CNI, Amrit Goldsmith, Pinuel Basumatary, Pritty Sangma Basumatary, Rev. Dn. Rensing Rongpi and Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad paid rich tributes to the veteran leader who use to visit Christ Church Guwahati for prayers and blessings.
Bishop Michael remembered Tarun Gogoi as a “humble person, who easily identified himself with different people groups of Assam, sensitive to their needs, did his best to address their concerns, and he did contribute to the development of Assam”. ACF thanked God for the blessings that the state has received from the life and work of Tarun Gogoi, and prayed for the bereaved family members.
On 24th a delegation led by Archbishop John Moolachira, the chairman of Assam Christian Forum and the president of NEIRBC, conducted a prayer meeting at Kalashetra, Guwahati where the mortal remains of Gogoi was kept for public homage. The delegation comprised prominent Christian leaders like Archbishop Thomas, A K Goldsmith, Allen Brooks, Rev T P Mordecai from CBCBEI, D Barua from Assam Presbyterian Church; Fr Mathew the Capuchin provincial; Fr John Paul the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Guwahati; Fr Joby the parish priest of Dispur Cathedral and several pastors, priests and nuns.