SHILLONG: The mortal remains of newspaper hawker, Lorens Largis, who was fondly known as “Um”, was laid to rest at the Presbyterian Cemetery at Lawmali here on Sunday as those gathered bid a tearful adieu to the man who served Shillongites for decades.
Those from newspaper hawkers’ fraternity, representatives of newspaper houses among others attended the funeral of late Largis who passed away on Saturday at Riatsamthiah.
Largis took to selling newspapers after he was brought to Shillong by late Stanley R. Nichols Roy for treatment at the Shillong Civil Hospital. After recovering from the illness, Largis immediately took to selling of newspapers and there was no looking back since then.
He was the only newspaper hawker who was allowed to sell newspapers at the Main Secretariat, after the General Administration Department denied entry to hawkers in the building.
Braving old age, Largis continued with the profession, which he had taken up at an early age, till his last days.
Largis was earlier felicitated for his dedicated service to the society at a programme organized by Employment Regeneration Committee in 1997 under the leadership of Larry Warjri.
The Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Church, Shillong had been taking care of him for the last 19 years.
Condolence messages of UDP legislator, Jemino Mawthoh, noted writer, Khar Kupar Kharlukhi and Meghalaya Hawkers’ and Vendors’ Association and others were read out at the Prayer Service held in his honour on Sunday afternoon.
