Shillong, Oct 15: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today inaugurated the centenary celebrations of Rilbong, along with the Rilbong Durga Puja and the Rilbong Sanatan Hindu Dharma Sabha. Arts & Culture Minister Shanbor Shullai was also present.
Congratulating residents, the Chief Minister said Rilbong has stood out over the last 100 years, from its diverse communities living together in peace and harmony to the contributions of individuals in many walks of life.
The year-long celebrations began with a session honouring 25 people who shaped Shillong over the past century. All were recognised posthumously as “Trailblazers.” An advisory committee headed by D.P. Wahlang, former Chief Secretary, chose the awardees, whose fields include literature, education, institution building, political leadership, sports and journalism.
The awardees came from different communities and professions, showing that Shillong’s institutions, public life and cultural identity were built by people of every community.
Their families travelled from the United States, Delhi, Kolkata, Dibrugarh and Shillong to receive the honours.
Paying tribute, the Chief Minister said the awardees “were there in difficult times” yet never gave up and consistently pursued their goals. He thanked their families and urged that their legacy be kept alive by living their principles and ideologies, not only by honouring and remembering them.
The 25 Trailblazers honoured were Khan Saheb Amjad Ali, Ardhendu Chaudhuri, Bibhu Bhushan Chaudhuri, Sudhindra Bhushan Chaudhuri, Jyotindra Nath Chaudhuri, Saradamanjori Datta, Dr Basudeb Datta Roy, Dr Pulin Behari Deb, Dr Bidhu Bhusan Dutta, Rai Saheeb Shivnath Dutta, Primrose Garfield Gatphoh, Jeewan Ram Goenka, Hopewell Elias Khariong, Brington Buhai Lyngdoh, Mavis Dunn Lyngdoh, Dr Homiwell Lyngdoh, Neil Nongkynrih, Babu Wilson Reade, Babu Jeebon Roy, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Rev J.J.M. Nichols Roy, E.N. Shullai, Ratanlal Singhania, U Soso Tham and Col. Puran Bahadur Thapa.
On government support, the Chief Minister said the state backs community-led development of localities through Dorbar Shnongs, resident committees and local bodies, alongside larger urban programmes. He outlined state initiatives to beautify cities and towns so they are both attractive and safe. Support to cultural and faith-linked institutions, he added, is provided as cultural and heritage infrastructure through the Arts & Culture and Tourism Departments, the NEC and the CMSDF.
During the occasion, he also handed a sanction letter of Rs 25 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund to the Rilbong Sanatan Hindu Dharma Sabha.
