SHILLONG: Amidst spring showers, Shillong on Sunday bid an emotional farewell to former MP, former Union Minister for DoNER and former Mizoram Governor, Paty Ripple Kyndiah. His mortal remains were laid to rest at the All Saints’ Cathedral Cemetery.
Braving the rain a large number of mourners and well wishers attended the funeral.
Before the burial, late Kyndiah was accorded a State Funeral at St. Anthony’s Ground, Laitumkhrah.
While offering rich tributes, former chief minister DD Lapang said that Kyndiah started his life from scratch and he was a man of mission, vision and determination.
He also recollected the services of Kyndiah to the downtrodden.
Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, AT Mondal, said it was one of the saddest moments in the history of Meghalaya.
“Late Kyndiah never lost an election in his lifetime and this only shows the faith that people had in him,” he said, adding that he had been a guiding force to all the members in the Assembly especially to the new members.
Mondal added that Kyndiah was a great parliamentarian and his thoughts were lively.
Home Minister Roshan Warjri in her tribute recalled the services of Late Kyndiah to the State and the country in various capacities, saying that she would greatly miss his “towering presence”.
LK Kyndiah, son of Late PR Kyndiah spoke on behalf of the family and expressed his gratitude to the State Government for according a grand honour to their late father. Speaking of his father, Kyndiah said that besides being a great leader, he was above all “a loving and caring father and the closest friend we had.”
Floral wreathes were laid by State dignitaries on the casket bearing Late Kyndiah’s mortal remains which was draped with the Tricolour, while the Meghalaya Police accorded a gun salute as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
The floral tribute on behalf of the Governor, KN Tripathi was given by his Principal Secretary, M. S. Rao, while Dikanchi D Shira, Chairperson, Meghalaya Resource Mobilization & Employment Generation Council, paid floral tributes on behalf of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
Earlier, the funeral service began at late Kyndiah’s residence at Lower New Colony, Laitumkhrah where several legislators were also present.
Kyndiah is survived by two daughters, three sons, a host of grandchildren and great grand children.
Kyndiah, who retired from active politics in 2009, prior to the Lok Sabha polls, had served as the Union Tribal Affairs Minister and DoNER Minister in 2004 when Congress-led UPA was in power.
Born on May 7, 1928, Kyndiah, a Hill State Movement leader, was a prominent figure in Meghalaya politics. From 1970 to 1993, he was a member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. He served as cabinet minister in the State Assembly from 1975 to 1988. He was also Leader of Opposition, Acting Chief Minister and Speaker of the Assembly.
Kyndiah had also served as Governor of Mizoram from 1993 to 1998 and subsequently he was elected to Lok Sabha three times (1998, 1999 and 2004) from the Shillong seat.