GUWAHATI, Nov 26 - Amid chanting of hymns by priests and shouting of slogans �Tarun Gogoi long live� by his fans and followers, the final journey of the colossus of Assam�s politics ended at Navagraha crematorium where his mortal remains were consigned to flames today.
Gaurav Gogoi, son of Tarun Gogoi, lit the funeral pyre at 3:24 pm.
Paying their final homage at the crematorium were people from different walks of life, including Gogoi�s wife Doli Gogoi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Jawans of 4th Assam Police Battalion gave a gun salute as a mark of respect to the leader whose final rites were performed with full State honours.
The large gathering also included State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Civil Supplies Minister Phanibhusan Choudhury, Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, Director General of Assam Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge for Assam Jitendra Singh, former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahai and senior Congress leader BP Maurya.
Hundreds of admirers of the former Chief Minister were waiting at the Navagraha crematorium since morning to witness the final journey of their beloved leader.
Anticipating such a huge gathering, the district administration and Guwahati Police made extensive arrangement in and around the cremation ground. Even a LED display had also been set up in the field adjacent to the crematorium so that everyone could get a proper view of the proceedings of the funeral.
�We are waiting here from morning to pay our final tribute to our beloved leader. As MLA, he had brought tremendous changes in our lives. People of Titabor will also keep him in their hearts,� said Jaya Barua, who reached the city from Titabor this morning to bid adieu to the leader.
Anil Chutia, president of Titabor Block Congress who was also present at the crematorium ground said, �He was not just a political figure for the people of Titabor, but a mentor for all of us too. He was a social scientist who had a unique capacity to understand the society.�
Chutia, a resident of Bandar Chalia village, said nobody could feel the pain endured by the people of Titabor. He asserted that Gogoi�s contribution to Titabor could be seen by a comparative evaluation of the developments before and after 2001.
�The devastated road conditions, poor education scenery, pathetic health infrastructure and transport were the norm before 2001. But the entire scenario changed dramatically once Tarun Gogoi assumed power as Chief Minister of Assam,� he said.
A team of more than 100 people from Titabor was present in the crematorium ground and paid floral tribute to Gogoi before the cremation.
�Today I feel grateful by getting a chance to cremate the former Chief Minister. He was a leader of the masses. He will be in our hearts forever,� said Hiramon Choudhury, a member of the team who cremated him at Navagraha.
