Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi (1934-2020) passes away

Former chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi (1934-2020) passed away in Guwahati on Monday. The 84-year-old leader, who remained chief minister for 15 long years between 2001 and 2016, was admitted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) on November 2 after he complained of breathlessness. He was infected by the coronavirus in August but had recovered and was discharged from hospital.

In an audio message from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on November 4, the veteran leader had said, “Love and affection of the masses, of the youths, students, tea garden workers, farmers of villages, weavers and small traders that I have received... that is the main asset of our political life. And taking forward this as the main asset I shall continue my work in future as well.”

He is survived by his wife Dolly, son Gaurav Gogoi, INC Member of Parliament from Kaliabor and the party’s Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha and daughter Chandrima Gogoi.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called me and inquired about his health condition... People are praying everywhere and I think that is giving him strength... My father has been in the hospital for almost three months now. The doctors have said that many young people don't have the kind of courage my father has shown," an emotional Gaurav Gogoi said.

He added that the hospital authority has permitted a sound system inside the ICU for playing peoples' prayers, and listening to songs by Bhupen Hazarika and Mrs Indira Gandhi's speeches as "that is also therapy".

Tarun Gogoi was the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Food between 1991 and 1993. From 1993 to 1995, he served as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Food Processing Industry.

Born on 11 October 1934, Tarun Gogoi remained the Chief Minister of Assam from 2001 to 2016. The Indian National Congress leader guided the party to three consecutive electoral victories in the state.

He did his primary schooling from No.26 Rangajan Nimna Buniyadi Vidyalaya. He completed his LLB from Gauhati University, Assam in 1963.

In 1968 when he was appointed as a member of the Jorhat Municipal Board. In 1971, Gogoi was elected to the fifth Lok Sabha during the tenure of Indira Gandhi. Tarun Gogoi won the 2001 Assam Legislative Assembly elections from Titabar assembly and became the chief minister of Assam.

In 2016, his tenure came to an end after the INC lost the election. Gogoi completed six terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Lok Sabha. From 1971–85, Gogoi represented Jorhat constituency. He was later elected from Kaliabor (1991–96/1998–2002).

His father, Dr. Kamleshwar Gogoi, was a medical practitioner at the Rangajan Tea Estate. His mother, Usha Gogoi, was a writer, poet and homemaker.

Gogoi was elected as the Joint Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1976. He won in the 6th and 7th Lok Sabha elections in 1977 and 1980 respectively. During Rajiv Gandhi’s term as the Prime Minister of India from 1985 to 1990, Tarun Gogoi was promoted to the post of General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee. At the same time, he also served as the President of the Pradesh Congress Committee, Assam.