MAWKYRWAT, Oct 28: Members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills District visited Domiasiat village on Friday to commemorate the second death anniversary of Spility Lyngdoh Langrin, the Iron Lady of Meghalaya, who remained an icon of resistance to uranium mining in Meghalaya until her death.
For the uninitiated, Langrin had rejected an offer of Rs 45 crore from Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to permit them to mine uranium on her land. “Money cannot buy me freedom,” she had famously said, while rejecting the offer.
The delegation of the KSU South West Khasi Hills District was led by its vice-president Shemphang Nonglang and general secretary Jiedskhem Nongsiej. The KSU delegation also paid tribute at the tomb of Langrin at Domiasiat.
The Union decided to observe October 28 as Anti-Uranium Day as a mark of respect for Langrin who was the face of the anti-uranium mining movement in Meghalaya for more than three decades.
KSU’s Macdonald Marbaniang recalled her inspiring words “money cannot buy me freedom” and said she had highlighted the environmental ills of uranium mining.
Marbaniang also said that before heading towards Domiasiat, the Union had put up banners in different parts of Mawkyrwat market to remind the people how the “Matriarch of Domiasiat” had sacrificed herself for the betterment of the people of the district.
“She has been the pillar in our struggle against uranium mining and her deeds have become our inspiration and encouraged us and the Jaitbynriew to continue the fight against uranium mining,” Marbaniang added.
