Former Assam Minister and a senior Congress leader Gobinda Chandra Langthasa, who passed in the wee hours on Saturday, was given final adieu on Sunday at Haflong, the district headquarters of Dima Hasao, by the people of the district.
The last rites of Langthasa, who was also the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of NCHAC for eleven years, were performed after a procession was taken out on the streets of Haflong in his honour.
The mortal remains of Langthasa, who died in a Guwahati-based private hospital in the wee hours of Saturday after prolonged illness, were taken to Haflong on Saturday.
Langthasa was 86 years old at the time of his demise.
He was born on January 23, 1932 at Nutan Wadrengdisa village in Dima Hasao, then known as North Cachar Hills.
The funeral process was participated by Congress leader Bidya Sing Engleng along with other local leaders and distinguished personalities.
Congress MP Biren Sing Engti, Congress leaders Nalendra Karigapsa, Birat Langthasa and former EM Bimal Hoja also participated in the funeral procession.
While hundreds of people joined the procession, representatives of several parties and organizations paid last tribute to their ‘true visionary leader’ and a ‘champion of unity’.
Later the funeral rites were performed in presence of a large number of people.
Besides being a prominent political leader of the hills district, Langthasa was also one of the prominent public figures of the region.
He maintained cordial relations with most of the tribes and communities of Dima Hasao district.
After leaving government service, Langthasa joined the Congress at the age of 20 years as a worker under Maibang Block Congress Committee and took active part for the District Council elections and Assembly election of the ST (Hills) Autonomous District.
In 1962, he was first elected to the NCHAC from Gunjung constituency and became the Executive Member till 1967.
In the year 1983, Langthasa was elected as an MLA from 16-Haflong (ST) Legislative Assembly Constituency and was inducted as a Cabinet Minister of the then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia’s Cabinet.
Langthasa was re-elected in 1991 and again in 2001 and became Cabinet Minister.
In 2006, Langthasa was denied a Cabinet berth, but he was appointed as the Chairman of Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and member of Gauhati University Court & Council.
In 2011, he was elected MLA for the sixth time.
Langthasa had to face a number of tragic incidents during his lifetime.
In 2003, Langthasa lost his 4th youngest son, who was killed at Haflong by militants and in the following year, 2004, his youngest son Nirmal Langthasa was kidnapped by the ULFA and was held captive for a period of four months when he was Assam’s HAD Minister.
In June, 2007, Langthasa’s eldest son Purnendu Lagthasa, the then CEM of NCHAC was killed by the militants while he was on election campaigning at Langlai Hasnu Village, Dehangi.
In the same year after the declaration of the Council election results during December, his two sons Dipendu Langthasa and Nirmal Langthasa were allegedly ambushed near Sontilla by militants while they were on their way to Guwahati from Haflong.