GUWAHATI, July 2 ? Former Finance Minister of the State Jiba Kanta Gogoi, who was till date an MLA representing Khumtai Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) in the State Assembly, died at the International Hospital here around 11.45 this morning following a protracted illness. He was 62.
Sri Gogoi, the fifth of the six sons of Late Gandharam Gogoi and Late Jaya Gogoi of Khumtai, also served as the Speaker of the State Assembly for about one and half year, since July 29, 1991. He was elected from Khumtai in 1983, 1991 and 2001. In 1983, he was made a Minister of State for Industries by Late Hiteswar Saikia in his ministry. He also left his mark as a writer as well as a journalist. Sri Gogoi, after doing his MA in English and LLB from Gauhati University, joined the Assamese daily Natun Asamiya as a staff reporter in 1964 and later in 1968, he brought out the Weekly Express from the city. He himself was its editor. However, he started his career in journalism with a monthly career guide Careers and Competition in 1962, after doing his BSc in statistics from the Cotton College.
In 1971, he brought out The Assam Express, the second English daily of the State, with Late Hem Barua, the noted litterateur-cum-politician, as its editor. Sri Gogoi became the editor of the daily after Late Barua left it. In 1979, Sri Gogoi brought out the Assamese weekly Nagarik with noted litterateur, journalist Sri Homen Bargohain as its editor. Sri Gogoi was also a practising advocate for sometime in Gauhati High Court and was also a member of the Gauhati High Court Bar Council. A prominent leader of the Congress (I) during the 1980s and 1990s, Sri Gogoi served the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee-I (APCC-I) for sometime as its general secretary and vice-president during that period. He also accompanied Late Indira Gandhi on her tour to the United States of America in 1982.
Sri Gogoi also led the delegation of the Finance Ministers of various states of the country to Hong Kong which studied the tax reforms there. He also wrote eight books, including his memoirs on the visit to the USA with Late Indira Gandhi. He wrote his first book Bibhishikar Aanre Aanre, a detective novel, while he was a student of Class VIII in the Golaghat Bezbarua Government High School in 1958. His body was taken to the State Assembly complex and the Rajiv Bhawan here today. Speaker Prithivi Majhi and Deputy Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai and members of the Assembly and its staff members paid their last respect to Sri Gogoi at the Assembly campus. The members of the Assembly and its staff members also held a condolence meeting mourning the death of Sri Gogoi. It also conveyed its sympathy to the members of his bereaved family.
Sri Gogoi leaves behind two sons, his wife and a host of relatives. His body will be taken to Khumtai, his native village and constituency, late this night and the cremation will take place at Khumtai village tomorrow afternoon, said family sources here. The State Government offices today observed a half-holiday paying respect to Sri Gogoi.
Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha said in a condolence message that Sri Gogoi would be long remembered for his contribution to public life of the State. The Governor also offered his deep sympathy to the bereaved members of Sri Gogoi?s family. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who is now in Delhi, also condoled the death of Sri Gogoi and conveyed his sympathy to his bereaved family members. Several Ministers also visited the International Hospital and Sri Gogoi?s Dispur residence here after receiving the news of his death.