Shillong, Oct 15 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said the legacy of those who shaped Shillong should be carried forward by upholding their principles and ideologies, as 25 personalities were honoured posthumously at the inauguration of Rilbong’s centenary celebrations.
Sangma inaugurated the year-long celebrations marking 100 years of the Rilbong locality, the Rilbong Durga Puja and the Rilbong Sanatan Hindu Dharma Sabha.
He congratulated residents on the milestone and praised the locality for fostering peace and harmony among diverse communities.
Addressing the programme, the chief minister said Rilbong had distinguished itself over the past century through the contributions of people from diverse backgrounds and fields.
Congratulating the recipients of the honours, Sangma said they had overcome difficult circumstances and remained committed to their goals.
“These extraordinary individuals were there in difficult times, yet one thing common among all of them is that they did not give up and consistently pursued what they wanted,” he said.
Thanking the families of the awardees, he said their legacy should be preserved not merely by remembering and honouring them, but by following the values and principles they stood for.
The awardees were selected by an advisory committee headed by former chief secretary DP Wahlang. Their contributions span literature, education, institution-building, politics, sports and journalism.
Among the awardees were Khan Saheb Amjad Ali, Ardhendu Chaudhuri, Bibhu Bhushan Chaudhuri, Saradamanjori Datta, Dr Basudeb Datta Roy, Primrose Garfield Gatphoh, Jeewan Ram Goenka, Hopewell Elias Khariong, Brington Buhai Lyngdoh, Dr Homiwell Lyngdoh, Neil Nongkynrih, Babu Jeebon Roy, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Rev JJ M Nichols Roy, and Col Puran Bahadur Thapa.
Family members travelled from the US, Delhi, Kolkata, Dibrugarh and Shillong to receive the honours.
Sangma said the government’s support for community-led development worked with Dorbar Shnongs, residents’ committees and other local bodies alongside broader urban development programmes.
He said government initiatives to beautify cities and towns also focused on ensuring that public spaces remained safe.
The chief minister said cultural and religious institutions received support through the Arts and Culture and Tourism departments, the North Eastern Council and the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund.
During the programme, he handed over a sanction letter for Rs 25 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund to the Rilbong Sanatan Hindu Dharma Sabha.
The year-long celebrations will commemorate the locality’s history and the contributions of individuals who helped shape Shillong’s public life and cultural identity, officials said.
(PTI News)
