SHILLONG, Jan 21: On the occasion of the 52nd statehood day of Meghalaya, Governor Phagu Chauhan on Sunday unveiled ‘Ki Mawbynna’ or monoliths built outside the main gates of Raj Bhavan here in commemoration of the 150 glorious years of Raj Bhavan.
The Governor also inaugurated a beautiful tree house constructed in the sprawling lawn of Raj Bhavan.
The unveiling ceremony was witnessed by officers and staff of Raj Bhavan led by the Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, Dr BDR Tiwari.
Formerly known as Government House, the Raj Bhavan was one of the first houses to be built in Shillong.
Designated as the official residence of the then Deputy Commissioner, Colonel Henry Stuart Bivar, it was designed, built and modelled to showcase the grandeur of the British Colonial Rule.
In 1874, when Shillong became the headquarters of the newly created province of Assam, the Bivar House was transformed into the Chief Commissioner’s residency.
The Residency, however, was damaged beyond repair in the earthquake of 1897. The present building was constructed over the remains of the residency and was occupied in 1903-04.
The Government House was renamed as “Raj Bhavan” on December 6, 1951.
After the independence of India, this symbol of the British Raj, in gradual transformation, became the symbol of a vibrant democracy, and ever since it has been the residence of the Governors of the state.
