By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 12: Four-time and veteran politician chief minister Donwa Dethwelson Lapang, popularly known as DD Lapang, passed away on Friday night at Bethany Hospital, Shillong. He was 93.
Family sources said Lapang had been battling age-related ailments for a prolonged period. He is survived by his wife, Amethyst Lynda Jones Blah, and two children.
Born on April 10, 1932, Lapang began his political journey by contesting and winning the 1972 Assembly elections from Nongpoh as an independent candidate. Over the years, he went on to serve as chief minister of Meghalaya on four occasions.
His first stint as chief minister was from 1992 to February 1993. He returned to the post on March 4, 2003, but stepped down on June 15, 2006, following dissidence within the coalition government.
Lapang was again sworn in as chief minister in March 2007. After the 2008 Assembly elections, he took oath on March 10, 2008, but with support from only 28 members in the 60-seat Assembly, he had to resign just nine days later.
His fourth and final tenure as chief minister began on May 13, 2009, following two months of President’s Rule in the state. He resigned from the post on April 19, 2010.
A veteran leader, Lapang was long regarded as a loyalist of the Indian National Congress. However, he left the Congress and joined the National People’s Party (NPP) on December 10, 2018.
A dedicated statesman and politician, Lapang was serving as the Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya.
Lapang is widely regarded as one of the chief architects behind the creation of Ri-Bhoi District which was inaugurated on June 4, 1992, marking a memorable history for the people of the district.
Driven by determination and hard work, Lapang, in his early days, helped his mother run a tea stall at Nongpoh.
Despite being educated, he showed no remorse in working as a road labourer to support himself and his family. Later, he served as a teacher at Salden Basic School, Nongpoh, for 5 years. He also worked as a typist in the Department of forest, Government of Assam. He was then promoted to the post of Lower Division Assistant and soon after to the post of Upper Division Assistant in Assam Civil Secretariat where he served for 13 years. Subsequently he then served as the Sub-inspector of Schools for 10 years.
At the time of the Hill State Movement, Lapang associated himself with leaders like Prof GG Swell, Capt. Williamson A. Sangma, BB Lyngdoh, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, Patty Ripple Kyndiah, DD Pugh, Peter G. Marbaniang and the likes.