SHILLONG: Standlington David Khongwir has completed 50 years as headman of Mawlai Nonglum after he took charge as it headman in the year 1968.
The Dorbar Shnong Mawlai Nonglum felicitated him on Wednesday at Mawlai Nonglum ground during a function witnessed by hundreds of peoples.
Speaking on the occasion, Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ricky Nelson Syiem appreciated Khongwir for his efforts in bringing about transparency in the functioning of the Dorbar shnong.
He learnt that the people were unwilling to give him up as the headman of Mawlai Nonglum.
Khongwir gave his first shot at politics when he contested the elections in 1972 by people from the Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) ticket where he had won against the candidate from All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC).
He had won the elections as an MLA for five times till he retired from active politics in the year 1998.
Asked by reporters on how does he juggle his work as a public representative and as a headman, Khongwir smiled and said, “Somehow I manage.”
According to him, he observed that the traditional office of the headman is a very important office which is beneficial not only to the public but for official government purposes as well.