NONGSTOIN: Meghalaya on Tuesday bid an emotional farewell to its longest serving politician Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, whose mortal remains were laid to rest with full State honours at the Mawkyllei village in West Khasi Hills.
Thousands of mourners and well wishers attended the funeral alongside Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma, Assembly Speaker A.T. Mondal, Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri, Adviser to the State Government D.D. Lapang, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Lyngdoh, Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh and Cabinet Ministers Roshan Warjri, A.L. Hek, H.D.R. Lyngdoh and Ampareen Lyngdoh, besides legislators, MDCs, and district officials from East and West Khasi Hills districts.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in his eulogy said, “Late Hoping Stone never lost an election in his lifetime and this only shows the faith and love that people had in him. He was a man of principle and was straight forward.”
“We lost not only a colleague but also a good friend,” the chief minister said, while recollecting that he met Bah Hoping when he was in Class VIII. Bah Hoping was renowned as being a stalwart who had helped Meghalaya achieve its Statehood, the chief minister said, while adding that he was thrilled at having met Bah Hoping.
“During his long service as a politician he opened lots of LP schools, secondary school and colleges across the State,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister said that a glowing example of Bah Hoping’s ideal career was that corruption never touched him. While recollecting the contributions of the leader he said that Bah Lyngdoh was a politician who was known for many good things which he practiced and demonstrated with his way of living. “His impeccable integrity in public life, the most important quality of a man who spent his entire life in serving the people, is something for us to emulate,” said the chief minister.
The chief minister also said that another quality of late Hoping Stone was the consistency with which he followed small and major issues alike which were not taken up by him for any political mileage but for the love for his people. Bah Lyngdoh was instrumental in sensitizing many in responding to given challenges. New politicians learnt many things from the great leader and he was the only politician to become rich after elections which is a reflection of the love he had earned that is for all to learn and emulate, Sangma stated.
Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, vice president of HSPDP, said the party and the State had lost a great leader who would always be remembered by the State and the party.
“His body has died but his spirit will remain forever,” Ardent said.
Chief Adviser to the Government, D.D. Lapang, said that Hoping Stone Lyngdoh showed leadership qualities at an early age. He was a man of mission, vision and determination, Lapang added.
Floral wreathes were laid by State dignitaries, district officials and bereaved family members on the casket bearing the moral remains of Hoping Stone which was draped in the Tricolour. Meghalaya Police accorded a gun salute and sang the National Anthem as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
Earlier, the funeral service began at late Hoping Stone residence at Mawkyllei village.
After the state funeral, the casket containing Hoping Stone’s mortal remains was handed over to the Church leaders of Mawkyllei Presbyterian Church for the burial.