who led a long drawn war against the British in the Jaintia kingdom but was captured and hung at the gallows at the Iawmusiang market in Jowai on the 30th of December in the year 1862.

 

During the independence period of the Indian nation, 25 Khasi states had signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union during 1947 – 48 and was accepted by the Union Government on 17th August in the year 1948 by the then Governor General of the country Rajagopala Krishnan. The iron man of India, the first Home Minister of independent India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who visited Shillong on the 1st of January, 1948 in connection with the signing of the Instrument of Accession had stated, “Yours is the land for gods to live in, its natural scenery, its pure atmosphere, its sweet waters, would attract gods, if your hearts were pure.” Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, leader of the Indian National Army, visiting Shillong during September 1938 was impressed by the democratic functioning of the Khasi states and had remarked, “Those who want to know about democracy, come to the Khasi Hills.”

The Constituent Assembly, however, did not honour the national commitment of incorporating the Instrument of Accession of the Khasi states but instead provided the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India in the formation of District Councils. This did not meet the aspirations of the people of Ri Hynniewtrep land comprising the present West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills. This eventually led to the demand of separate statehood of the hill regions of Assam including the Garo Hills, Mikir and North Cachar, Lushai and Naga Hills.

The Eastern India Tribal Union (EITU) was formed for the formation of a separate state and the first session of the APHLC was held on the 8th of October, 1954 in Tura, Garo Hills. A memorandum was submitted to the Re – organisation Commission of the Government of India regarding the aspirations of the hills people of the region. The Eastern India Tribal Union, continuing as the flag bearer for achieving a separate hill state under the slogan ‘No Hill State No Rest’ swept the polls during the 1957 general elections including the prestigious Parliament seat comprising the United Khasi Jaintia Hills, Mikir Hills and North Cachar, whose candidate Hoover Hynniewta emerged victorious.

 

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, leader of the Indian National Army, visiting Shillong during September 1938 was impressed by the democratic functioning of the Khasi states and had remarked, “Those who want to know about democracy, come to the Khasi Hills.”

However, during the political journey, other hill areas chose to part ways and Nagaland was granted statehood in 1963. Tripura and Manipur originally belonging to Assam became Union Territories in 1956. The Mikir and North Cachar Hills opted to remain in Assam. More so, in  1960, the Assam Government introduced Assamese as the state’s official language which led to a series of protests. The student community under the banner of the Eastern India Hills Frontier Union took over the leadership for separation and organised a series of public protests on the 21st of May, 1960. The hill members in the Assam Assembly including Captain W. A. Sangma resigned from the Congress Chaliha ministry on the language issue. The All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) was formed on the 6th of July in the year 1960 to intensify the separate Hill State movement along Gandhian principles of non – violence under the leadership of Captain W. A. Sangma, Brington Buhai Lyngdoh, Stanley Nichols Roy and others.

 

It was not until the 27th of December, 1966, that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Shillong and assured the hill people of fulfillment of their aspirations in a public meeting held at the Iewrynghep grounds, Fire Brigade, Nongthymmai.

Eventually, the North Eastern Reorganisation Act, 1971 was passed in Parliament, leading to the formation of the Northeastern states including Meghalaya on the 21st of January in the year 1972.

Forty years have passed since Meghalaya came into existence after a struggle of 18 long years. The APHLC in the general elections had virtually swept the polls including the election of Professor G. G. Swell representing the Shillong seat to the Lok Sabha. The APHLC was however split when a section of the party led by Captain W. A. Sangma joined the Congress. Regional parties emerged and splintered and the electorate always voted for a hung assembly resulting in coalition governments, as it is today.

Today, Meghalaya Day is observed in a ritualistic manner in the midst of deficiencies of the administration and the lack of foresight of successive governments lacking the vision and determination to steer the state towards economic advancement. The future lies in the present young leadership to be more responsive to the genuine needs of the state.