Flinder Anderson Khonglam
| Dr. Flinder Anderson Khonglam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Minister of Meghalaya | |
| Governor | M. M. Jacob |
| Constituency | Sohra |
|
In office December 8, 2001 – March 4, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | E.K. Mawlong |
| Succeeded by | Darwin Diengdoh Pugh |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
6 February 1945 Malki, Shillong |
| Died |
22 May 2012 (aged 67) Shillong, Meghalaya, India |
| Political party | Independent |
| Residence | Laitumkhrah |
| Profession | Physician |
Dr. Flinder Anderson Khonglam (February 6, 1945 – May 22, 2012) was an Indian politician and physician. He served as the sixth Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 2001 to 2003.[1] Khonglam was the first independent legislator to serve as the Chief Minister of any Indian state in history.[2][3]
Biography
Early life and career
Khonglam was born in Malki, Shillong, Assam (now present-day Meghalaya) on February 6, 1945.[2] He was the oldest of eight children born to his parents, Richard N. Lyngdoh and L. Khonglam.[2] He was a doctor, working at Nazareth Hospital and several other government-owned medical facilities in the state.[2]
Political career
Khonglam represented the Sohra (Cherrapunji) constituency in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for almost twenty years.[1][2] He first ran for the Assembly in 1978, but was defeated in the election by an opponent from the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP).[2] However, Khonglam, an independent won the 1983 state election by defeating an incumbent from the HSPDP.[2] In 1988, Khonglam lost his seat in the Assembly to an opponent from the Indian National Congress.[2]
He was re-elected in to the Meghalaya Assembly in 1993 as an independent.[2] He was re-elected to two more consecutive terms from the same constituency thereafter.[2] He won re-election during the 1990s as an independent.[2] Khonglam was elected again in 2003, this time as a candidate for the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP).[2]
He also headed the Peoples Forum of Meghalaya (PFM) and represented Sohra within the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).[3]
Chief Minister of Meghalaya
Khonglam's predecessor, former Chief Minister E.K. Mawlong, was forced to resign from office due to scandal involving the construction of the Meghalaya House in Kolkata.[1] Khonglam became Chief Minister of Meghalaya on December 8, 2001.[2] He became the first independent Chief Minister of an Indian state in history.[2] He became Chief Minister through the support of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by P. A. Sangma, which formed a coalition government with the Congress Party.[1][2] Khonglam served as Chief Minister until March 4, 2003.[3]
Later life
Khonglam was defeated for re-election in the 2008 legislative election by Dr. P.W. Khongjee of the Indian National Congress party.[2]
He suffered from diabetes, which contributed to health problems in his later life, including one documented diabetic stroke.[2] Khonglam fainted at his home in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, on May 22, 2012. He was taken to Bethany Hospital in Shillong, where he died at 6:30 p.m. IST on May 22, 2012, at the age of 67.[2] Khonglam was buried in a cemetery in Malki.[3] Dignitaries in attendance at the funeral included the Meghalaya Deputy Chief Ministers, Bindo Lanong and Rowell Lyngdoh, and Hopingstone Lingdoh, the leader of the Hill State People's Democratic Party.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Former Meghalaya CM Khonglam dead". Times of India. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Former CM Dr FA Khonglam no more". Shillong Times. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Hundreds rally as Khonglam laid to rest". Seven Sisters Post. 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
