Guwahati: Hundreds of people on March 24 attended the funeral of Joseph Toppo, a founder member of the Asom Gana Parishad (Assam people’s party) and a former parliamentarian.
Toppo, who was a former minister of Assam, had suffered a brain stroke on March 16. He and was shifted to a private hospital in Guwahati, Assam’s commercial capital, where the end came on March 22. He was 72.
The Catholic politician of Assam died as the eastern Indian state was in the grip of a crucial assembly election.
Toppo, who had been suffering from respiratory ailments, fell ill while addressing an election rally in Tezpur.
Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo of Tezpur hailed Toppo as “a good and exemplary Catholic coming from a humble beginning” who rose to high social and political leadership. At the same time he maintained “cordial relations with the Church and his community,” the prelate added.
In his condolence message, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi described Toppo “as a responsible person.”
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former state chief minister and the chief architect of AGP, described Toppo as “one of the simplest human beings” he had met.
Toppo was elected a Member of Parliament from Tezpur constituency in 2009.
He was a member of the state Assembly for three terms since 1996 and was minister for labor and employment when Mahanta was the chief minister.
He was a prominent member from the tea tribe community of Assam.
As homage to the deceased, the AGP announced three days’ mourning for him.
Toppo is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. His brother, Hippolytus, is a priest of Tezpur diocese.
Toppo belonged to the Mary Help of Christians Church, Dhekiajuli Parish under Tezpur diocese.
Educated in Catholic institutions Toppo had his professional training in Motor Mechanics from Don Bosco Technical Institute Maligaon, near Guwahati.