Former CM Tarun Gogoi cremated with full state honours

Nov. 26: Assam bade a tearful adieu to three-time former Chief Minister and Congress stalwart Tarun Gogoi. The last rites of the veteran leader was performed on Thursday with full state honours at the Nabagraha Cremation ground in Guwahati. Amid the chanting of hymns, preceded by a gun salute and band played by the Assam Police, the state’s longest serving chief minister’s mortal remains were consigned to flames by his son Gaurav Gogoi.

Tarun Gogoi’s wife Dolly, daughter Chandrima, daughter-in-law Elizabeth and other family members placed sandalwood on the pyre before it was lit by Mr Gaurav. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma, several ministers, Congress leaders, top bureaucrats, police officers and others were present to witness the last rites of Tarun Gogoi.

Earlier in the day, the mortal remains, placed on a flower-decked vehicle, were taken to a church, a namghar (prayer house), a mosque, and two temples in a procession. A group of Sikh priests also recited hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib and offered a shawl to the late leader at the cremation ground. It was an emotional journey, rarely seen in Assam, with scores of admirers and onlookers stopping the flower-bedecked truck at several places.

A half-day state holiday was declared by the government on Thursday as a mark of respect for the departed leader. A three-day state mourning was declared when he passed away on Monday at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital in Guwahati due to multiple organ failure, caused by post-COVID-19 complications.

A people's leader, Late Tarun Gogoi will always live in our hearts & will be remembered by generations for his contributions to Assam

Attended his last rites at Nabagraha Crematorium along with HCM @sarbanandsonwal & many other dignitaries

May his soul rest in peace

ॐ शांति 🙏 pic.twitter.com/5mCZaThA5V

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 26, 2020

In a tweet, State Cabinet Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “A people’s leader, Late Tarun Gogoi will always live in our hearts & will be remembered by generations for his contributions to Assam Attended his last rites at Nabagraha Crematorium along with HCM @sarbanandsonwal & many other dignitaries May his soul rest in peace.”

Huge crowds had gathered outside the cremation ground and along the way through which the popular leader’s cortege passed, while huge television screens were installed outside Nabagraha for the public.

Tarun Gogoi was a six-time MP and four-time MLA. He had first donned the CM’s mantle in 2001 and held the position till mid-2016 when the Congress was ousted by a resurgent BJP.