GUWAHATI, Nov 25 - People from different walks of life today visited the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra to pay their last respects to former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Those seeking a last glimpse of their beloved leader included children, youths and centenarians. Sixty-year-old Bharati Das from Mirza was one such fan of Tarun Gogoi, who along with her seven-year-old grandson reached Guwahati this morning to pay tribute to her beloved leader.
�I never personally met him, but his speeches and style of talking turned me into his fan. He was really an exceptional leader. I will miss him a lot. I pray for peace of the departed soul,� Das said. Nayan Kalita, a youth from Bongaigaon district said that his generation would always remain grateful to the late leader for turning the disturbed land into a peaceful State.
�I was very young when Tarun Gogoi first took charge as Chief Minister of Assam. From my parents I came to know about the troubled situation in Assam before the Gogoi government came to power. He was really a great leader who very pragmatically handled the militancy issue of Assam. Today we are living in a very free environment only because of Tarun Gogoi,� Kalita said.
City-based advocate Nripen Malakar, who also works for the welfare of differently-abled persons of the State, said that Tarun Gogoi had a soft corner in his heart for the �special� people of society.
�For the first time in Assam, around 672 differently-abled people got appointment in third grade and fourth grade posts under different departments of the State government when Tarun Gogoi was Chief Minister. His speciality was to give a patient hearing to every issue of the common people. He was very tolerant and inclusive, and always had respect for democratic protests. Assam will really miss him,� Malakar said.
Among different groups of people, an eight-member team from Mother Old Age Home, a city-based shelter home for elderly people, including 104-year-old Suvadra Devi and 100-year-old Mai Handique, also paid tribute to the leader. After paying tribute, Suvadra Devi said, �Gogoi was like my son. He and his family used to often visit our old-age home.�
Notably, Tarun Gogoi extended a helping hand to the old-age home when the owner of the house where the shelter home was located earlier, had asked it to vacate the house within a short notice.
�When Gogoi Sir came to know about our condition, he immediately promised to extend financial help. Every month he used to donate Rs 50,000 to run our shelter home. It was a great help for us during the time of crisis,� Utpal Harshvardhan, co-founder of Mother Old Age Home told The Assam Tribune.
Among those who visited the Kalakshetra to pay homage to Gogoi were Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, trade union leader Tapan Sarma, leaders of different student organisations and bureaucrats.
Meanwhile, the Senior Engineers Forum (NER) Guwahati has condoled the demise of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. In a statement it said all its members had very fond memories of working with Gogoi during his fifteen years of chief ministership. The members recalled Gogoi�s commitment towards development schemes that were initiated and implemented even when the State was passing through a crucial stage.
The All India Services Pensioners� Forum has condoled the demise of Tarun Gogoi. In a statement, the forum said its members would always remember Gogoi for his impartial and judicious administrative skills.
The Srimanta Sankar Krishti Bikash Samiti, Kamakhya Temple Management Committee and Government Pensioners� Association also mourned the death of Gogoi.
