- NET Web Desk
On the first anniversary of his passing, Tarun Gogoi – an experienced administrator and former Chief Minister of Assam is remembered warmly.
Known for being Assam’s longest-serving Chief Minister, the veteran Congress leader passed away at the age of 84 due to post-COVID complications.
He is survived by his wife Dolly Gogoi, son Gaurav Gogoi – a Lok Sabha member, and daughter Chandrima Gogoi who lives in the US.
Tarun Gogoi is remembered as a statesman with grounded personality, and a leader who never limited freedom of expression.
Born on April 1, 1936 into an Assamese Tai-Ahom family at Rangajan Tea Estate in erstwhile Sivasagar district, which is today known as the Jorhat district of Assam.
Gogoi was born to Dr. Kamaleshwar Gogoi, a tea-estate medical practitioner, and mother Usha Gogoi, who was well-known for her book of poetry ‘Hiyar Samahar’.
The former leader began his political career as the student association leader at Gauhati University, who was later elected as Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1976 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Since then, Gogoi served six terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Lok Sabha.
He first represented Jorhat in 1971–85. Later, Gogoi was elected from Kaliabor constituency (1991–96/1998–2002), a constituency currently held by his son Gaurav Gogoi.
Gogoi have also served as General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) (1985-90) under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and later served in the Union Cabinet of India under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao as Union Minister of State in the Food and Food Processing Industry departments (1991–96).
Its pertinent to note that on November 9, the former Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award posthumously. His wife Dolly Gogoi received the award on his behalf from the President of India Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
