Guwahati: Assam bade an emotional farewell to its beloved former chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday, as his final rites were performed with full state honours at the Nabagraha Cremation ground in Guwahati.
The mortal remains of Gogoi who was a “secular leader in theory and practice” were taken to a church, namghar, mosque, temple and a Bihu function field, as per his last wish, before it was consigned to flames by his son Gaurav Gogoi.
Gaurav, a Lok Sabha MP, wearing the traditional ‘chelleng sador’ (a shawl) and dhoti along with a face mask, lit the pyre after performing the rituals.
Gogoi’s wife Dolly, daughter Chandrima, daughter-in- law Elizabeth and other family members placed sandalwood on the pyre before it was lit by Gaurav.
Thousands joined Gogoi’s funeral procession as people were seen everywhere with footpaths, dividers, vehicle tops and roofs of buildings occupied by men and women along the nearly 25-km-long procession route. Hundreds were taking pictures and videos of the last journey of their beloved leader.
Traditional drums and cymbals were played, and conch shells were blown along the entire route.
The city came to a standstill, especially along the arterial Guwahati-Shillong Road, RGB Road, MD Road, GNB Road, Lamb Road, and other places like Rukminigaon, Ganeshguri, Zoo gate, Commerce College point, Chandmari and Guwahati Club point.
Shops and commercial establishments at several places in Guwahati and other parts of the state pulled their shutters down as a mark of respect. The state government had announced a half-day holiday from 1 pm on Thursday.
The Congress stalwart died here on November 23 while undergoing treatment for post-COVID-19 complications at the age of 84 years.
“Gogoi sir was truly a secular leader in theory and practice. There are many leaders who preach secularism, but never follow it. Gogoi sir even allowed his son Gaurav to marry a Christian girl from the UK. So, he encouraged cultural assimilation also,” Congress spokesperson Rhituporna Konwar said.
Among the pall bearers who carried his body up to the vehicle were his son Gaurav Gogoi, Congress state unit chief Ripun Bora and other leaders.