SHILLONG/JOWAI, Aug 16: A patriotic fervour prevailed across the state on Tuesday as desh bhakt Meghalaya joined the rest of the country in celebrating the 77th Independence Day.
The Tricolour was hoisted in several programmes across all district headquarters, sub-divisions and in other events organised at a smaller scale as well.
In the state capital, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma led the celebrations as dignitaries and scores of people came together to witness the gala event.
Raj Bhavan’s grandeur
One of the most sought-after activities in Shillong on the occasion of Independence Day is visiting the Raj Bhavan.
As is tradition, long queues of enthusiastic and curious visitors waited patiently to get a glimpse of the grandeur of the Raj Bhavan, which was opened to the general public from 3 pm to 8 pm on the occasion. By the end of the day, over 10,000 visitors enjoyed a tour of the official residence of the Governor as well as the sprawling lawns at the venue.
Governor Phagu Chauhan also hosted ‘At Home’, a special programme to commemorate the day, which saw the attendance of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, senior officials of the state government, paramilitary forces, armed forces, representatives of various NGOs, students and cadets of the NCC and Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides, to which the Governor is now a patron.
A cultural programme was organised by the Department of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Shillong.
Earlier, the Governor planted tree saplings.
Umpling HQ of BSF glints
The BSF Meghalaya, at its frontier headquarters in Umpling, celebrated the historical occasion. Inspector General of BSF Meghalaya Pradip Kumar hoisted the Tricolour to kick off the celebrations.
A cultural programme was also organised by the BSF schools during the day.
BSF personnel deployed along the border also celebrated the day.
Additionally, the troops of 110 Bn BSF Meghalaya organised a free medical camp under the Civic Action Programme for the bordering villagers of East Khasi Hills. Free health check-ups were carried out and medicines were also distributed among the needy villagers.
NEHU reverberates with oneness
NEHU campus came alive on the day as the varsity celebrated the 77th Independence Day with a grand ‘Tiranga March’ and a series of events that highlighted NEHU’s commitment to academic excellence, cultural preservation, and societal progress.
Hundreds of students, adorned in traditional attire representing the diverse cultures of Northeast, marched in unity to commemorate the struggles of freedom fighters from the region. The march culminated at the Administration Building, where the national flag was unfurled by the Vice Chancellor of NEHU, Prof PS Shukla.
ICAR Umiam special
Marking the day with a special initiative, ICAR Umiam renamed the institute’s renovated guest house honouring the legendary freedom fighter of Meghalaya, U Tirot Sing Syiem. Earlier called Scientist Home, the place will now be known as the U Tirot Sing Guest House.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director of ICAR Umiam Dr VK Mishra lauded the martyrs of the country who sacrificed their lives to give the country independence.
IIM Shillong joins others
The Independence Day celebrations at IIM Shillong commenced with a grand parade of the guards, setting a patriotic tone for the day.
Director of IIM Shillong Prof DP Goyal hoisted the Tricolour which fluttered majestically at a towering height of 100 feet. Students, along with the IIM Shillong fraternity, joined in unison to sing the national anthem expressing their collective pride in being a part of this great nation.
A special highlight of the event was an award ceremony honouring the outsourced staff members and their contribution to the campus’s functioning. The felicitation was followed by a cultural programme.
Village adopted
On the occasion, Inner Wheel Club of Pine City Shillong in association with the Rotary Club of Cherry Blossom, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan cell St. Edmund’s College, DBT advanced level Biotech Hub (Phase II) and with the help of the NSS unit of St Edmund’s College adopted a village at Mylliem, named Kyndong-Nongkyntir.
At the village, the celebrations began with the singing of the national anthem. Moreover, a talk on women health, hygiene, menstrual cycle and the use of sanitary pads along with the use and benefits of the eco-friendly reusable sanitary napkins was given by Dr Jasmine T Sawian, with the aid of the resource person, Dr Karen Syiem. Eco-friendly reusable sanitary pads were distributed among females. In addition, each female was also given a plant.
The club also completed its phase 2 of the Centenary Plantation Project.
Ri-Bhoi
In Ri-Bhoi, a programme at the NSCA Mini Stadium Pahamsyiem, Nongpoh, witnessed the Tricolour hoisted by Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla, who led the Rashtriya Salute of the 32 marching contingent including the district police, 6th Battalion, Home Guards, NCC, Bands of St. Paul’s and students from different schools.
NEC tribute
Along with the rest, North Eastern Council Secretariat, Shillong, celebrated the occasion with exuberance as Secretary K Moses Chalai hoisted the Tricolour in the presence of all senior officers and staff. He paid a tribute to all freedom fighters.
Youth Icon
In Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, as part of the celebrations, Wankupar Lyngdoh Marshillong, a differently-abled person, was selected as the ‘Youth Icon’ for the upcoming elections in 2024 by the district administration (Election). On the day, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was also launched in the district.
Ampareen in EJH
In Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh hoisted the national flag during a programme at Khliehriat Higher Secondary School Playground and took the salute of the 22 march past contingent of police, NCC, Scouts and Guides and students. At the programme, an award for exemplary performance under the Kayakalp programme for the year 2022-23 was presented to Bataw PHC, while a commendation award was conferred on Pamra Paithlu PHC.
Bataw PHC also received an award for the top performing PHC in East Jaintia Hills under the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPM-JAY).
Commendation for green initiative
In Jowai, West Jaintia Hills, the district administration, as part of the I-Day celebrations, felicitated DH Pde, retired Officer-in-Charge of Jowai Police Station, who is also the president of Jaintia Fishing and Environment Protection Association and the incumbent headman of Chilliangraij Jowai.
The honour for Pde was in recognition of his contribution towards helping keep Jowai town clean through his initiative of distributing dustbins and conducting cleaning drives in different parts of the town.
He also organised tree plantation drives and awareness programmes in different localities of Jowai several times to make people aware of the negative impact of the use of plastics.