A centenarian’s thoughts

One of the most prominent political figures, late BB Lyngdoh turned 100 on February 2.
The diminutive figure who rose to become a tall statesman is remembered by his relatives, friends and well-wishers. His daughter, Syrpailin Khonglah, took the initiative for the year-long birth centenary celebration of the former chief minister.
The BB Lyngdoh Birth Centenary Celebration Committee was constituted recently comprising family members, former colleagues and well-wishers of the late leader to celebrate his life and vision.
The move assumes significance as the state is celebrating 50 years of its existence and the golden jubilee celebration is incomplete without Lyngdoh.
The committee has planned literary and cultural events, photo exhibitions besides sports activities among other initiatives.
In his life time, the late political figure did not mince words while commenting on militancy, coal mining and other social issues.
Sunday Monitor reproduces an article written by him titled ‘coal war’.

During the years 1953 to 1958 I was closely connected with the affairs of the Sohra Syiemship (former Cherra State) as a part-time consultant in legal and administrative matters. Because of the heavy rains (in fact the heaviest on Earth) agriculture is practically absent in all the hilly portions of the Syiemship. But the people were very prosperous as coal mine owners. They sold their coal to Shillong and Guwahati and also to certain parts of the present Bangladesh. But in September 1954 something happened that shook the whole structure of their life. There was a notification that all the coal mines of Cherra Syiemship were being taken over by the Assam Government. It also became known that the government would lease out the mines to the companies. The ruler, Late Join Manik Syiem, his Myntris, the general public- all of us were shocked.
As a grown-up, educated Khasi I knew the customary laws of the Khasi people and the constitution of the Khasi States. Land with all its contents, the soil on the surface, the minerals below and the trees above absolutely belong to the people as a community, a clan or an individual that is raid lands, kur lands and ri kynti lands. The Syiem has nothing to do with land. Therefore, the Assam government notification baffled me. So, I went to meet Rev. J.J.M. Nichols-Roy who was then a Minister in the Assam government. I was surprised to learn that he did not know about the notification. He was very angry with it. He moved for its withdrawal, but Mr. Medhi was adamant. The people rose in protest. It became a mass movement. The government came down heavily. Public meetings were prohibited by the District Magistrate. Under the protection of the Syiem and with his active participation, we defied the prohibitory orders. Police force came down from Shillong and stationed themselves in several places. Tear gas was used to disperse public meetings or to scare away the owner from the mines. After a year or so, the government gave up.
At that same period there was also the strong hill people movement for a separate State. To ease the situation Mr. Bimala Prasad Chaliha was brought to replace Bishnu Ram Medhi as the chief Minister of Assam. He was known to be a friend of the hill people. He was broad minded and kind hearted. I liked him very much. However, being new to Khasi Hills he was misled by the interested parties to restore the decision to take over the coal mines of Sohra Syiemship. I came to know about it from Mr. Stanley Nichols-Roy, son of Rev J.J.M Nichols-Roy. He said that a lease agreement would be signed within seven days.
There was no time to organize public protest. Once the lease agreement was signed, government would find it legally difficult to cancel it afterwards. So, we got the most prominent Khasi leaders of Shillong to issue a protest which was very effective. The protest had the desired effect. The government called the Cherra leaders for discussion. Ultimately, I led a 50-stong delegation to meet Chief Minister Mr. Chaliha in his residence at Shillong. He was happily surprised to learn from us about the healthy, decent economic life of the Khasis.
Each family has a house and a garden, within which vegetables are grown and cattle, pigs and chickens are reared. Outside the village the family has coal mines or paddy fields or potato cultivations.
The people would not give up that beautiful life and go to live in the barracks of the companies. Within a week Mr. Chaliha cancelled the proposed scheme of taking away the coal mines from the people.

~ Team Sunday Monitor

Courtesy: bblyngdoh.com