SHILLONG, Feb 2: Meghalaya fondly remembered one of its finest politicians and father of coalition politics, Brington Buhai Lyngdoh during the inaugural function of his centenary birth celebrations on Wednesday.
The BB Lyngdoh Birth Centenary Celebration Committee organised a function to commemorate the day which was premiered on YouTube.
Delivering the keynote addresses on the life and works of the late former chief minister, former diplomat Rudi Warjri recalled that Lyngdoh had a close association with the Ramakrishna Mission.
“He actively participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942. He joined the Shillong Bar after completing his law graduation and got involved in the coal war in 1953 and 1958 when the then Assam government and its new imperialist policy was trying to forcefully take over privately owned coal mines in Sohra Syiemship. This, in a way, sowed the seeds of the Hill State Movement,” Warjri recalled.
Mentioning that much has been written on the contribution of the late former CM to the Hill State Movement, Warjri said Lyngdoh faced a litmus test during the communal riots in Meghalaya in 1979 but it also showcased his decisive leadership. “As CM, late Lyngdoh had stated that the government has the moral and constitution obligation of protecting the life and property of all persons living in the state, whether Meghalayan or Maharashtrian or Russian or Chinese or Japanese or American,” Warjri mentioned.
According to him, the former statesman was clear in his assertion that no community or leader or social, cultural or religious groups should meddle into matters of law and order.
Warjri said this particular observation gains significance in the context of rising hate crimes and ethnic communalism and the more dangerous trend of radicalization of the youth in Meghalaya and India.
Recalling that late Lyngdoh is considered the pioneer of coalition politics, the former Ambassador said Meghalaya’s coalition politics attracted national media attention and in May 1980 it was reported that Meghalaya led the way to coalition politics in India.
Warjri recalled that the former CM had stated that there is a feeling that government money is free property and stealing is no sin. “He was afraid that this false idea may spread to churches, clubs, society and organisations,” the former Ambassador said.
Warjri also recalled that late Lyngdoh was the first to come out with the revolutionary proposal of conducting a cadastral survey of land in Meghalaya that ultimately led to systematic land record system and proved to be a game-changer for economic prosperity of the state.
“Unfortunately, the layers of vested interest in the archive land holding system are opposing this till today,” he said.
In his message on the occasion, Governor Satya Pal Malik said the former CM was a courageous person as he was not afraid to look at insurgency as only a way to fleece people or actually extort from them.
“He never took insurgency seriously and was never afraid of it. He used to speak without fear and only spoke what is true. It was for this reason that he was well respected and honoured,” Malik said.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said people of the state are indebted for the invaluable contribution of a political statesman like Lyngdoh towards the Hill State Movement leading to the formation of Meghalaya.
“He played an important role in the formation of an all-party coalition in 1988. During Meghalaya’s 25th Statehood celebrations, the Legislative Assembly honoured late Lyngdoh for his contributions to the Hill State,” Sangma said.
Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh recalled that the former statesman was an architect of the MLA scheme and was referred to by many as a master coalition builder.
“Late Lyngdoh was one of the few politicians respected across party lines. The people of the state are grateful for his contributions to the state’s development. He was a long-serving CM from a regional party,” Lyngdoh added.
Daughter of the former CM and convener of the centenary celebration committee, Syrpailin Khonglah said the family was honoured to have been able to provide a glimpse of the statesman and his commitment and dedication over 50 years of public service and his contributions to Meghalaya’s development.
On the occasion, the CM formally launched the website of late Lyngdoh (www.bblyngdoh.com). The website contains his writings, anecdotes and photographs from his childhood right upto the height of his political career.
Rang Majaw and group from Laitlyngkot performed his favourite song Ka por ba la leit which the late CM used to sing at public gatherings.
Late Lyngdoh would pass off as the tallest Khasi politician having occupied the centre stage of state politics for over three decades. Possessed with an imposing personality, Lyngdoh was a man of strong courage of conviction. During Meghalaya’s demoralising politics of instability prior to enactment of anti-defection law, he championed the art of cobbling coalitions. He is first CM in the country to share power with his political rival, Capt WA Sangma on fifty-fifty basis.
Lyngdoh will also be remembered for his administrative ability and handling law-and-order situations with an iron hand.
Lyngdoh was a persistent votary for a directly elected Prime Minister — an idea that many in the ruling BJP see as a virtue today. He was truly a visionary and a statesman. He dreamt of making Meghalaya “mini Japan” through laissez faire. Truly, he was ahead of his time.