SHILLONG: Noted entrepreneur Honsen Lyngdoh passed away on Tuesday morning at a city hospital at the age of 82 years.
He is survived by his wife, six children and six grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon on January 25, 2018 in his residence.
Lyngdoh was born in a poor family on March 16, 1936. As per his bio-data, he was deprived of formal education and cannot read or write but knows English, Hindi, Nepali other than his mother tongue, Khasi.
He started his carrier as a workshop owner but with self-acquired experience and expertise and with modern vision was solely responsible for setting up of the road construction firm ‘Honsen Lyngdoh Earth Moving & Hauling Services’, and made the firm where it is today.
With enormous understanding of machinery along with hard dedication became one of the most respected businessmen of the state.
He was also 1st Class Contractor with Public Works Department (Roads), government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd. CPWD, IOC, MES.
During his lifetime, they had the intention of diverting youths towards healthy activities, had developed numerous numbers of playground including Football ground, Volley-ball ground, Basketball ground etc. in the state of Meghalaya, Assam and in Arunachal Pradesh.
He also contributed to educational institutions by way of developing sites for school & college buildings and also by way of donation towards infrastructure development.
Some portion of the profit from business is set aside for village roads development, playgrounds and educational institutions.
Lyngdoh was the president of “The Antique Wheels of the North East” and he was the owner of the vintage car model ‘Ford T1904’ which was utilised by Sir Richard Attenborough in the movie “GANDHI”.
He had participated and won the many vintage car rallies (from 1975 till date) and was awarded 1st prize from DUNLOP, GOOD YEAR, MRF and State Bank of India for the same.
As for construction of roads, he had constructed many roads in remotest rural areas, to connect the villages with PWD roads and National Highways.
Some of the major motor able roads constructed by his company are 5 Kilo, (Shallang) to Langmar Village (West Khasi Hills) – 36 Kms, Shallang to Rongkhukre Village (Garo Hills) – 22 Kms, Shallang to Dadengiri Village (Garo Hills) – 18 Kms.
All three above roads are situated at the remotest area of the state and are said to be the lifeline of the villages and named by local people as ‘Honsen Roads’.
In Shillong, he constructed the Lower and Upper Mawiong roads, Shillong (East Khasi Hills) – 3 Kms (presently taken over by the Public Works Department, Meghalaya).
Among his achievements, he was a recipient of “The National Citizens Award 1991” on September 14, 1992, by President of India (Late) Shankar Dayal Sharma, for the contribution to the Development of the North Eastern States of India.
He was also awarded the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ on January 30, 2015, by 5th North-East Consumer Awards for Social Entrepreneurship. The award was handed over by Union Cabinet Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Kalraj Mishra.
Lyngdoh also bagged the Recipient of ‘Silver Elephant Award’ on the February 16, 2015, by President of India Pranab Mukherjee, for his contribution to Scouts & Guides movement.
He was a Lifetime Member and Member of the Managing Body Committee of the Indian Red Cross Society, Meghalaya State Branch, Executive Member of the YMCA, Shillong.He was the Board Member of the KJP Synod Sepngi (Robert Hospital). Shillong.
He was also the Lifetime Member of the Kaziranga Wildlife Society, Assam and executive member of Earls Holiday Home. He was the Vice-Patron of the Meghalaya Bharat Scouts & Guides.