Resubelpara, Aug 17: Seldom does one get to witness unity among warring factions, in both life and death. But Late Salseng Marak was of a different breed.
At the peak of his political career, during the 1990s when the state was going through a political upheaval, and regionalism turning into a powerful political force that was seeking power, a calm and composed Salseng Marak steered the ship (state) safely away from the rough choppy waters of instability. He was the first chief minister in a long time to complete a full five year term without any major upheavals. And the magic wand he possessed was his ability to be a great unifying force for all sides.
On Saturday, at his funeral, it was once again at work.
Casting aside all differences and political ideologies, the who’s who of Meghalaya politics came together for one last time to see him off, giving honor to a man who envied no one but turned out to be a great unifier.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, former CM Mukul Sangma and new Tura MP Saleng A Sangma- the trio who could never see eye to eye on literally any issue, were, for once, united in grief, sharing the dais at the funeral service.
The political rivalry between the three is legendary.
While Mukul unseated D D Lapang to wear the crown, effectively ending the reign of the Salseng-Lapang era, Conrad snatched it from him, eight years later.
Saleng and Mukul, once together in Congress, turned from friends to foes as the then chief minister became wary of the young turk’s rising to stardom and effectively cut him off by denying him the Congress ticket in the 2013 elections.
Saleng was pushed into political wilderness for close to ten long years until Mukul’s exit from the congress, paving the way for his return to the party and his subsequent victory in the parliamentary polls.
But on August 17th, all that was forgotten and forgiven as the trio shared a bonhomie in honor of the man who showed them the way.
“Let us honor his memory by working together to build upon the foundation he laid,” urged Conrad Sangma.
Mukul Sangma acknowledged that Late Salseng Marak was an inspiration for all who came across his path. “He had long innings in politics and was a guide and inspiration to all of us,” said the former chief minister.
For new Tura MP Saleng A Sangma it was a mammoth loss for the people of the state. “We lost a gentleman and his ideals. History will prove that,” said Saleng Sangma.
But there was one man who stood out from the rest- sitting Resubelpara legislator Timothy D Shira, who fought a long political battle with Late Salseng Marak- going back as far as fifty long years.
“We were political rivals from the early 1970s. Late Salseng Marak got elected as an MLA for the very first time in 1973 and I contested against him in 1978, but faced defeat. We would go on to fight many more of such battles and I would taste defeat several times,” recall Timothy Shira, who ultimately won three elections against the former chief minister.
But that rivalry always ended on the campaign trail.
“Though we were political rivals, yet, there was no enmity between us. Whenever we met up we would shake hands, greet one another and wish success on each other. His late brother and my late father were very close friends. Today it is a sad day for me as he is no more with us,” lamented Timothy D Shira.
But within the sad story lay a ray of hope- of goodwill and friendship- that was used all through the life of Late Salseng Marak.
