Williamnagar, Oct 29: Half a century after a remote sub-division was carved out of the Garo Hills hinterland, Williamnagar celebrated its Golden Jubilee today with a day of tributes, inaugurations and a look ahead at what the next fifty years might hold.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma attended the main function at Rongrenggre Government Higher Secondary School, where he marked the milestone for East Garo Hills district and inaugurated a series of development projects.
Minister for PHE and Williamnagar MLA Marcuise N. Marak, the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police, district officials, MDCs, Nokmas, religious leaders, teachers and students were present.
Honouring the builders
In his address, the Chief Minister said the celebration reflected Williamnagar’s rise as an administrative, educational and economic centre of the region. He paid tribute to leaders whose efforts led to the creation of the district, naming Williamson A Sangma, Choronsing A Sangma, Lolith R Sangma and Rev M Marak.
He also thanked the Nokmas who donated land for government offices, among them Tiren Sangma, Chingban Sangma, Asin Marak, Dingnang Sangma and Mison Sangma.
Gratitude was extended as well to past and present members of local institutions, the district administration and residents for their service.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated new facilities at Williamnagar Higher Secondary School and spent time with teachers and students.
On his way to the venue, he stopped to inspect ongoing work on the Rs 9.40 crore Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall, where he met local sportspersons, heard their concerns and encouraged young people to take up sports.
Together, the school and the sports hall address two priorities for the town’s youth: quality education and structured opportunities for sporting talent.
Connectivity took centre stage among the projects. “The road and bridge projects address the connectivity required to support growth and development in East Garo Hills,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the works would improve movement within Williamnagar and link it better with surrounding areas.
He described the projects as different but connected parts of one picture: education building human capacity, sports infrastructure supporting youth, roads and bridges easing movement, and housing enabling planned urban growth. “The Golden Jubilee therefore provides an appropriate point to connect Williamnagar’s fifty-year journey with its next phase of development,” he said.
Projects inaugurated or launched:
Upgradation of 13.989 km of internal town roads, funded by the World Bank under MITP: Rs 26.92 crore
Widening of the Rongrenggre–Simsanggre–Nengkhra Road (10th to 16th km) under RIDF XXVIII: Rs 15.98 crore
4.40 km of interlocking concrete block roads in the town: Rs 4.70 crore
Rongongre Bridge, inaugurated
Foundation stone laid for eight MIG housing units: Rs 3.61 crore
Former MLAs, MDCs, prominent citizens and Nokmas were felicitated by the Chief Minister. Certificates under MSSDS were handed to inmates of the District Prison and Correctional Home trained under the CM Skills Mission, and to SHG trainees from Kusim Rongmitel trained in wood carving. Startup tools under MSSDS and MOTHER Kits (baby kits) under the CM Safe Motherhood Scheme were also distributed.
A town’s fifty-year journey
Williamnagar’s story is tied to the making of Meghalaya itself. On 26 January 1972, the Simsanggre Civil Sub-Division was established to serve an area that was remote and hard to reach. The new administrative centre was named in honour of Captain Williamson A. Sangma, in recognition of his contribution to the people and to the State’s journey to Statehood. Community elders, local leaders and Nokmas helped establish it.
In October 1976, with the creation of East Garo Hills district, the sub-division was upgraded and Williamnagar became the district headquarters, bringing administration, public services and development programmes closer to communities across the region. Nokmas who donated ancestral land for district offices and the planned growth of the town laid the physical and institutional foundation on which it later grew.
Over five decades, Williamnagar has become the administrative, educational and service hub of East Garo Hills. The Golden Jubilee, organisers said, honours those who built it and renews the responsibility to strengthen education, healthcare, connectivity, housing, livelihoods and public services for the next generation.
