TURA: The first chief minister of Meghalaya, Late Captain Williamnson A Sangma, was fondly remembered on his 27th death anniversary with special memorial services being held in Tura and his birth place of Baghmara in South Garo Hills on Wednesday morning.
In Baghmara, a special observance was held at the Captain Williamson memorial park in which Siju-Rongara MLA and parliamentary secretary Rophul S Marak-led the gathering in paying rich floral tributes to the late leader.
Rophul Marak, in his address to the gathering, spoke of the qualities of the late leader and called upon the youth to follow in his footsteps. He suggested that it would be a befitting honour for the late leader if the government can suggest to all schools and educational institutions in the state to have his portrait to remind the students of the works of the first chief minister.
In Tura, a special service was organized by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council to honour Captain Sangma. The chief executive member of the GHADC, Boston Ch Marak, led the gathering in offering rich floral tributes before a bust of the first CEM of the GHADC.
Addressing the gathered congregation of well-wishers of Captain Sangma, CEM Boston Marak urged upon everyone to follow the footprints of the first chief minister who worked dedicatedly for the people of the state.
“He was the first CEM of the district council, the first chief minister of our newly created state of Meghalaya, the first tribal Governor of the north east and the first among the Garos,” said Boston Marak.
One of Captain Sangma’s sole surviving member of the Hill state Movement, former minister Albinstone A Sangma also attended the memorial service and addressed the gathering.
Albinstone Sangma was an active volunteer who worked with Late Captain Sangma at the height of the hill state movement to demand for a separate state for the tribes of the region. Since the demise of Captain Sangma, he has never missed a single anniversary of the late leader.
“I feel very emotional each time the memorial takes place because it brings back memories of our freedom struggle,” said Albinstone Sangma.
Later, floral wreaths were placed atop the tomb of Captain Williamson Sangma at his residence in Hawakhana, Tura.