SHILLONG: Editor of a Khasi daily, U Nongsaiñ Hima, Lambok Thabah, passed away on Tuesday morning following sudden illness.
Late Thabah was also associated with The Shillong Times for a brief period of time. He had served as the Editor of U Nongsaiñ Hima from 2003, albeit he was associated with it from 1996-97. He completed his Mechanical Engineering from Shillong Polytechnic in 1994.
Condoling the death of Thabah, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said his untimely demise is a huge loss to the media fraternity. “I have personally known him as a journalist who believed in reporting facts and truth,” the chief minister said.
Meanwhile, The Shillong Press Club held a condolence meeting in the late afternoon where the members fondly recalled their association with Thabah. They remembered him as a guide and mentor to young journalists.
The members also recalled that he was a straightforward person and a passionate journalist who was dedicated in his field of work. A two-minute silence was observed by the Club members.
The Shillong Press Club sent its condolences to the members of the bereaved family.
In a statement issued here, The Shillong Press Club said, “(L) Bah Lam, as he was fondly known to all of his colleagues and friends, was a stalwart of a journalist who never once tried to grab any limelight or attract any self-glory, through his quiet working style. In fact, very few knew of him being awarded the prestigious Ram Nath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award instituted by the Indian Express Group in 2014 for his breakthrough reporting on the gross PDS anomalies in Meghalaya”.
The leaders of the Club stated that Thabah was always a quiet man but would never tolerate any balderdash come what may, which was one of his most endearing qualities.
MLA of Mawlai PT Sawkmie also conveyed his condolences.
Joining the others, the Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) expressed its shock and grief at the sudden demise of Thabah.
In a statement, the NEPA general secretary, John W Thabah, while recalling his association with Thabah, said that the latter served as a torchbearer of the media in the state since the early 1990s.
A condolence meeting of MEPA was held during the afternoon on Tuesday to condole the demise of Thabah, who was also an executive member of MEPA.
A one-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul.