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| Lyngdoh |
Shillong, Oct. 27: The grand old man of Meghalaya politics is no more.
Four-time chief minister and veteran of many a political battle, Brington Buhai Lyngdoh, passed away at the Shillong Civil Hospital in the wee hours of today. He was 81.
Lyngdoh had been ailing for sometime and underwent treatment at the Down Town Hospital in Guwahati. He was brought back to the Meghalaya capital and admitted to the civil hospital exactly a week ago.
Governor M.M. Jacob was among the first to condole the political stalwart’s demise. In a message to the family, he described Lyngdoh as “a man of impeccable character, who maintained honesty and integrity in public life”.
Chief minister D.D. Lapang echoed him, saying the late politician was a “noble son of the soil”.
He said Lyngdoh’s best attributes were his “complete integrity” and his crystal-clear views. “He had no confusion in his mind.”
Lapang said the state had lost Lyngdoh the man, but would not lose his footprints, especially those dating back to the time when he was at the forefront of the movement for statehood.
A busload of mourners from Lynkyrdem, Lyngdoh’s constituency, reached the state capital on hearing about their leader’s demise. “He was not just our leader, he was like God to us,” an elderly woman said.
Born on February 2, 1922, to Ajra Singh and Nerimai Lyngdoh at Laitlyngkot village, “BB” came into the limelight in 1954. He first became chief minister in 1979 and retained the post in 1983. He held the top post for two more terms, beginning 1990 and 1998.
Before joining politics, Lyngdoh was a lawyer, and an upright one at that. His acknowledged honesty had much to do with his strict upbringing and education, beginning at the Ramakrishna Mission School.
He completed his intermediate education in science at Guwahati’s Cotton College and then proceeded to Calcutta for a stint at Scottish Church College.
The communal riots in Calcutta in the Forties, however, forced Lyngdoh to return to Guwahati. He ultimately completed his graduation under Gauhati University in 1948. After obtaining a law degree from Calcutta University in 1951, he taught at Mawkhar Christian High School for a year before joining the Shillong bar in 1952.
The transition to politics took place in 1957, when Lyngdoh contested a seat in the district council. The election ended in a tie with his rival Rostanwel.
He first contested an Assembly seat, Nongpoh, in 1962 and won. He shifted to Lyngkyrdem and represented the constituency until it was decided that he would skip the Assembly poll this year.
Lyngdoh left behind a daughter and a son. His funeral will be at the All Saints cremation ground on Wednesday.