Assam: Former president of ASM Bhadrakrishna Goswami passes away
GUWAHATI, July 26, 2018: Former Asom Satra Mahasabha president Bhadrakrishna Goswami passed away at the age of 85 in a city hospital in state.
Goswami was admitted to the hospital on July 9 following a cardiac problem. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. He was also the xatradhikar (head priest) of Jokai xatra in Upper Assam's Sivasagar district.
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Goswami was cremated at Navagraha crematorium with state honours.
Before cremation, his body was taken from hospital to his home at Kamakhya Nagar at Bhangagarh, Media Trust at Rupnagar and the office of the Asam Sahitya Sabha at Ambari.
State water resources minister Keshab Mahanta, press adviser to chief minister Rishikesh Goswami, Guwahati police commissioner Hiren Nath, Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Birendra Mittal and Guwahati Municipal Corporation mayor Mrigen Sarania were among others who attended the funeral.
Born in 1933 in Sivasagar, Goswami had studied at Gaurisagar in Sivasagar and then Gauhati University and Delhi University. He had worked as a teacher and served as the chief editor of Nilachal, an Assamese weekly.
Goswami entered into social life through his association with Asom Satra Mahasabha, a platform of all xatras of the state. After serving the Mahasabha in various capacities, Goswami became its president in 2005 and was re-elected in 2007. During his second tenure, Goswami set up branches of the Mahasabha in New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.
As president of the Mahasabha, Goswami had raised the problems of the xatras with the Centre numerous times and put sustained pressure on the state government to release funds for them.
Goswami was a literary pensioner of the Assam government.
"Goswami's demise is an irreparable damage for the state," said cultural minister Naba Kumar Doley.
"As an exponent of the rich xattriya heritage, Goswami worked relentlessly for xattriya culture, literature and values and strengthened the Mahasabha to carry on its enlightened legacy," said state industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary.
The All Assam Students' Union and All Assam Minority Students' Union condoled Goswami's demise. A team of AASU visited Navagraha and paid tribute to him.
Source: The Telegraph
Featured image: The Telegraph
