STAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH: Noted social activist, founder of one of the apex NGOs of the State- Socio Educational Welfare Association, SEWA, a well-known writer, and former president of All Assam Lekhika Samaroh Sammittee, Shanti Gogoi passed away on Friday in New Delhi. She was 87.
Wife of former Chief Minister of Assam, Keshab Chandra Gogoi, a resident of Khaliamari Dibrugarh, is survived by three sons, two daughters, grandchildren, a host of family members and a number of admirers. Born on August 30, 1934 to Jogesh Chandra Borgohain and Padma Kumari Gohain, Shanti Gogoi's father was a MLC in the late 1930s and her mother was a cabinet minister in the Bimala Prasad Chaliha and Mahendra Mohan Chowdhury's cabinet. A scion of the well-known Borgohain family, Shanti Gogoi was the proud mother of retired Air Marshal of Indian Air Force, Anjan Kumar Gogoi, former Chief Justice of India, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is presently a Rajya Sabha MP, Consultant Urologist in United Kingdom, Dr Nirjan Gogoi and two daughters Indira Gogoi and Nandita Hazarika who were members of Assam Civil Service till their retirement recently.
Shanti Gogoi was the founder of SEWA, a NGO which she launched in the year of 2000, two years after the death of her husband Keshab Chandra Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam. She successfully headed SEWA as a president for 16 years and later passed the baton to her eldest son, former Air Marshal of Indian Air Force, Anjan Kumar Gogoi. She was also closely associated with various socio-cultural organizations, including Mahila Samitee and adorned the post of advisor of Dibrugarh Mahila Samitee. She had also contributed a number of literary works which were published in a number of periodicals and magazines. Jugma Jibanor Sworoni (1999), Europr Mitha Huworon (2009) Padma Kumari Gohainir Rosona Sambhar (2003) and Chintar Jilikoni (2012) were some of the books to her credit. Shanti Gogoi received recognition for her works and was awarded the Labanya Hazarika Adarsha Matri Award in 2013.
A number of organizations and leading personalities from all walks of life thronged her residence at Khaliamar on arrival of her body from New Delhi and paid their rich tribute to the departed soul. Her last rites will be performed at the local Chowkidinghi crematorium on Saturday.