The initiation of the younger Gogoi

He has already crisscrossed the state,mostly accompanying his father,delivering a speech now and then,and asking the people to vote for the Congress. A possible hint that this is an apprenticeship came from his father himself: “I am not forcing him into politics. He is a grown-up boy and will decide for himself.” Mother Dolly Gogoi echoes: “It is up to him.”

About the tours,Gogoi says: “It is important that our educated youth go to the villages and take part in the political process. Look at national politics. A number of well educated,young people have already made it to Parliament.”

He preempts a question on whether he believes in family politics,saying: “The children of several of my friends in the Congress have joined politics. There is nothing wrong in that. But they have to be educated and qualified to understand the basic issues that affect the people.”

The strongest sign came when Gaurav went out alone to Titabor,his father’s constituency. “I have addressed about a dozen meetings and interacted with the people in the past two weeks,” he says.

This does not mean he is joining politics immediately,he insists. “I am taking this opportunity of accompanying my father to have a closer look at rural Assam,” says Gaurav. “I have travelled extensively in rural areas in UP,Chhattisgarh,Madhya Pradesh,Haryana and Rajasthan as a member of a Delhi-based NGO.” He has also worked in rural areas in Palestine and Cambodia,he says.

Gaurav has also gone out with leaders other than his father,especially younger ones. He accompanied Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain when the latter went to file his papers in Nagaon. He has also toured many constituencies,seeking support for the Congress. “I am trying to relate to the younger generation. And the response has been very good,” he said.