Tale of two leaders demanding statehood

SHILLONG: Two stalwarts who fought for separate states to be carved out of Meghalaya passed away within a span of six- months without, however, achieving their goals thereby perhaps weakening the movement for statehood.
While the GNC leader Clifford Marak (68) from Chokpot , who was the face of the  movement for separate Garoland  passed away on February 28 this year, six months later, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh (86), who was a close friend of Marak and the advocate for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state, passed away in the wee hours of Saturday.
Both the leaders had met in Khasi and Garo Hills on several occasions to discuss the need for creating separate states.
Niece of the HSPDP leader, Badariti Lyngdoh said on Saturday that though the votary of Khasi-Jaintia state is no more, “we hope that someone will carry forward his movement and achieve the goal”.
In Garo Hills, though GNC leader Marak passed away without fulfilling his dream, the fight is still on under the banner Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC).
Another worry of Hoping Stone Lyngdoh was the delay in solving the border dispute with Assam.
“A few days ago sitting at home probably in semi-conscious state, he was murmuring about border issues affecting the people,” said D. Lyngdoh, the nephew of Hoping Stone.
The HSPDP leader, however, did not live longer to fulfill his dream of finding a lasting solution to the border dispute with Assam.