SHILLONG, July 13: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded her four-day visit to Meghalaya on Sunday with a stop at the Ramakrishna Mission School in Sohra—an institution deeply woven into the state’s educational and socio-political legacy.
She paid floral tributes at the statues of Swami Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, honouring the spiritual foundation upon which the Mission stands.
Later, she toured the vocational training centre run by the institution, where around 100 women are currently enrolled in a free weaving programme aimed at promoting economic independence through traditional skills.
She engaged with the women undergoing training and interacted with local entrepreneurs associated with the centre.
The Minister took note of the Mission’s efforts to create avenues for self-reliance and livelihood among women—a theme that has been central to the Mission’s outreach in the region.
She expressed a strong interest in the institution’s alumni, acknowledging the school’s role in nurturing a generation of leaders and professionals.
Among the school’s most distinguished former students are former chief minister Brington Buhai Lyngdoh who is known for pioneering coalition politics in India; George Gilbert Swell, a prominent parliamentarian; and Donkupar Roy, also a former chief minister. Over the years, the institution has also produced a number of bureaucrats and technocrats who have contributed to the state’s development.
Sitharaman’s visit coincided with the school’s centenary celebrations. To commemorate the occasion, she planted a sapling on the campus—a gesture symbolising growth, continuity and the enduring relevance of the Mission’s values.
She interacted with 90-year-old Lolin Lyndem, one of the oldest living alumni of the institution, who had served as a student as well as a teacher; and Theilin Phanbuh, president of the school and recipient of the Padma Shri for her work in the field of women’s welfare.
The school’s leadership noted the Minister’s genuine curiosity about the institution’s evolution over the decades. Sitharaman was particularly keen to understand the historical significance of the Sohra centre, its achievements in education and healthcare, and the social challenges it continues to address in the region.
Her visit was seen as a gesture of recognition for the Mission’s long-standing service to the community.
