By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 17: One of Jowai town’s oldest institutions, Tympang Club, on Friday marked a historic milestone as it celebrated 125 years since its establishment in 1901, reaffirming its place as the town’s first club and a nucleus of civic life in the Jaintia Hills.
Often described as the earliest urban hub of Jowai, the Tympang locality today houses key government establishments, including the Deputy Commissioner’s office and the offices of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla congratulated the club’s leadership and members for reaching what he described as a landmark moment in the town’s collective history.
Praising the club’s contribution to social cohesion and civic life, he assured continued cooperation with the institution for the welfare of the locality and Jowai town at large, before formally declaring open the year-long quasquicentennial celebrations.
Offering a historical perspective, senior member R. Lyngdoh recalled that the area derives its name from Ïawmusiang, originally located at Nangbah and later shifted to present-day Jowai. She noted that Ïawmusiang emerged as the most important market in the entire Jaiñtia Hills and holds special significance as the place where freedom fighter u Kiang Nangbah lived and died.
She further pointed out that the first government office in the area was a British-era thanah established in 1855.
An old stone pathway linking Jaintiapur to Nartiang and extending up to Goba in present-day Nowgong passed through Ïawmusiang, making it a public thoroughfare and encouraging settlement long before formal urbanisation took shape.
Tracing the roots of the club, Lyngdoh said four individuals—u Ksan Thule, u Woh Khroo (Langdong) Shylla, u Woh Dalin Sutnga and u Woh Sing (Suloin) Shylla—founded ka dong Ïawmusiang 125 years ago.
What began as a dong later evolved into Ïawmusiang Club, and eventually came to be known as Tympang Club, following a suggestion linked to a relative of poet laureate u Soso Tham.
According to oral accounts, Tham is believed to have exclaimed “ïoo Tympang” on first seeing the place, a phrase that endured as the name of both the locality and the club.
The inaugural function was also addressed by Thombor Chiwat, Chief Executive Member of the JHADC, along with Edelweiss Dkhar, Chairman of the Club, Ajoy Lywait, and Rev. GS Shullai, who offered the opening prayer.
Earlier in the day, a special meeting was held at the club hall to honour former leaders of Tympang Club who have passed away.
Posthumous awards were presented to their families in recognition of their service, during a session chaired by R. Lamarr, vice chairman of the Club.
