Tarun Gogoi's final journey; Sea of humanity in Guwahati, pall of gloom across Assam

* Cremation at Nabagraha with full State honours on Thursday

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: After a long time, the streets in Assam's capital city on Tuesday witnessed a sea of humanity when the final journey of the three-times Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi began from the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH). After battling with the post-COVID complications, the popular political leader breathed his last at the GMCH on Monday evening.

Thousands of mourners, friends, fans, well-wishers, political leaders and party workers irrespective of caste, creed and religion joined the procession when the moral remains of Tarun Gogoi in a glass coffin wrapped in flowers was taken to his official residence at Janata Bhawan (State Secretariat) premises and Rajiv Bhawan (Assam Congress headquarters). The GS Road, the city's arterial road witnessed massive traffic congestion on Tuesday evening when the body of the former Chief Minister was taken from the Rajiv Bhawan to the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra at Panjabari. The body will be kept at the Kalakshetra on Wednesday to enable the general people to pay their homage to Gogoi's mortal remains.

"Whenever Gogoi sir faced any quandary, he often uttered 'Baad Diya Hei' (just leave it). But now, Gogoi sir has departed; we fondly remember him as a leader who never left us in difficult times. We won't get such a popular, simple, humble, smiling, positive and evergreen Chief Minister like Gogoi sir," said Jehirul Islam (50), a resident of Bhangargarh who walked from Rajiv Bhawan to Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.

Islam further said, "Gogoi sir led Assam in one of the most difficult phases, when salaries were put on hold, the militancy was at its peak, and secret killings scared the masses to leave home after sunset.

MonishaSarma, a resident of Uzan Bazar said "The city witnessed such a huge procession when Gogoi sir's body was taken to the different places. The last time such a procession was witnessed in the city was after music maestro Bhupen Hazarika's funeral procession in 2011.

"I am 70 years old and haven't stepped out of home since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Today, I could not resist myself; and came out to pay my respects to a leader who won everyone's heart," said Mridul Das, a resident of Ganeshguri, as he stood amid a sea of people on the GS Road.

Tarun Gogoi's son and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, accompanied by senior leaders and hundreds of supporters, received the body from GMCH on Tuesday morning, which was then taken out in a procession. His glass coffin was taken on the shoulders by Gaurav, APCC president Ripun Bora, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia and other senior leaders such as Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain.

Scores of people and leaders — cutting across party lines — assembled at Gogoi's official residence in Dispur to pay their last respects. Gogoi's wife Dolly Gogoi, daughter ChandrimaGogoi, son Gaurav and other family members paid their tributes to the departed soul at the official residence. From there, the body was taken to JanataBhawan from where Gogoi served the people for 15 years as the Chief Minister. Industries & Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chief Minister's Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami and Chief Minister's Legal Advisor SantanuBharali offered floral tributes at the mortal remains of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi as per the direction of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Janata Bhawan on Tuesday. Among others, Chief Secretary JishnuBarua and DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta were present at the Janata Bhawan.

Later in the day, the mortal remains were transferred to Congress headquarters — Rajiv Bhawan for the party workers to pay their homage.

As per the family's wish, the mortal remains were taken to the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra premises on Tuesday evening. People will be allowed to pay their homage at the mortal remains of Gogoi in the Kalakshetra on Wednesday.

Gogoi will be cremated in Guwahati with full State honours on Thursday. Even though the issue of a suitable cremation site for the former Chief Minister remained debatable among the ruling and Opposition Congress parties during the daytime on Tuesday, the Congress on Tuesday evening decided that cremation would take place at the Nabagraha crematorium.

Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta paid tributes to the departed leader at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra on Tuesday evening.

Many Central leaders are expected to visit Guwahati in the next two days to pay their tributes to Tarun Gogoi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied by the AICC general secretary KC Venugopal will visit the city on Wednesday to pay their tributes. AICC general secretary (in charge of Assam) Jitendra Singh will also arrive in the city on Wednesday.

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