Mani Shankar Aiyar releases 'The Visionary: The Life and Rise of Tarun Gogoi'

Reminiscing his days with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Aiyar said that he had the privilege to know him when he had joined the Prime Minister’s office as joint secretary to Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.

“Tarun was at that stage the joint secretary in the AICC and the two of us were asked, to arrange the tours that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi wished to undertake in the remote parts of India, in places like the jungles of Madhya Pradesh and the deserts of Rajasthan and the remote islands like Lakshwadeep,” Aiyar said.

Recalling the Assam agitation days when Rajiv Gandhi sat with the agitated students that eventually led to the signing of the Assam Accord, Aiyar said that once the Assam Accord was signed, Tarun had to move out of the AICC and go back to Assam.

Although the electoral prospects were not favourable at that time, Tarun plunged headlong into it. As was expected, the student leaders riding on an emotional wave won the elections and formed the Government.

Speaking on  the innate leadership qualities of Gogoi, Aiyar said that he had played a pivotal role in boosting the morale of the Congress and worked in tandem with Hiteswar Saikia for reviving the party. The Congress won triumphantly in the elections of 1991.

Aiyar said Assam’s future is assured in the hands of Gogoi and he sees him becoming the Chief Minister for the next five years.

“He is an undisputed leader of Assam for 15 years in a row and also for the next five years. It is due to his efforts peace has returned back to the valley,” Aiyar said.

The Rajya Sabha MP opined that Gogoi combined in himself the local with the global. Here is a man who combined in himself the local with the global.

“From the town of Jorhat to the precincts of the Oxford University, his close association with political leaders and in the company of foreign leaders, academicians and artists, Tarun has been the cynosure of all eyes,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Speaking on the occasion, retired Judge Supreme Court, Justice SN Phookan said Gogoi did not go back on his word.

“Whenever Tarun made any commitment, he would stick to it at any cost,” Phookan said.

Phookan said that Gogoi is adhering all along to Rajdharma and carries out his functions as enshrined in the Constitution. Tarun has been adhering to Rajdharma and that is why people have elected him for three consecutive terms.

The former judge of the Supreme Court also recalled Gogoi’s painstaking efforts in setting up the Law College in Jorhat.

“Tarun was instrumental in setting up the Jorhat Law College. And today this college has grown up leaps and bounds and has completed glorious 50 years,” the former judge said.

Echoing Aiyar, Phookan praised Dolly Gogoi, wife of the Chief Minister, for giving him company through thick and thin and freeing him from the household chores.

Phookan hoped that the book will get a good response from the people, particularly the young generation who will feel inspired and motivated to do something good as citizens of the country.

“I hope the young generation will take over from where we left off,” Phookan added.

Former President, Asom Sahiya Sabha, Kanaksen Deka, who presided over the function, said one of the greatest qualities of Gogoi was that he was not vindictive.

“He has never been vindictive against those who have gone hammer and tongs in the print and electronic media. He has never put anyone behind bars nor did he gag the freedom of the press. It is during his tenure the State has witnessed the proliferation of newspapers and TV channels,” Deka said.

Praising the administrative acumen of Gogoi, Deka said that he is soft where he needs to be and acts tough when the going gets tough. But he is not weak-kneed in his approach.

Deka said steering a State plagued with myriad problems is not an easy task and Gogoi by remaining at the helm of affairs for long 15 years has exemplified his administrative acumen and dexterity.

“It’s not an easy task to steer a State like Assam plagued with so many problems. But Gogoi has shown his administrative prowess by remaining at the helm of affairs for long 15 years. And this is no mean achievement. There was no denying the fact that during Gogoi’s tenure as Chief Minister, the State has witnessed changes. New roads and bridges have come up and this must be acknowledged by his opponents and detractors alike,” Deka said.

He praised the Chief Minister for his decision to name the Assam Houses and Bhawans in the hallowed name of great saint-social reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva.

Acknowledging the words of appreciation, Chief Minister Gogoi said he had gained in vast experience through his associations with political leaders, academicians, artists and common man.

“I have gained in vast experience through my associations with a wide spectrum of people and getting to know firsthand the problems being faced by them. And this has stood me in good stead over the years,” Gogoi said.

Underscoring the need for a deep knowledge of the grassroots, Gogoi said that you get to know the real picture when you come in touch with the people living in remote areas. And that’s why I tour extensively and do not bank only on what my officials give an account of.

Accepting challenges has become a part and parcel of his life, Gogoi said that contending with difficulties and overcoming it has become intrinsic part of my life. Confront with challenges and you can forge ahead.

Thanking the people, his friends, well-wishers, family and relatives for their profound love and affection, Gogoi said that iIt keeps me ticking.

Earlier the author of the book, Tinat Atifa Masood said that it was an enriching experience for her to chronicle the life of Tarun Gogoi.

“It was a wonderful learning experience for me to chronicle the chequered life of the great visionary by requesting the Chief Minister to talk into my dictaphone for few precious minutes that he managed to squeeze in,” Masood said.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)