B. B. Lyngdoh

Brington Buhai Lyngdoh or B. B. Lyngdoh (2 February 1922 – 27 October 2003) was a former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, a state in north-eastern India. He was born at Laitlyngkot, a village 25 kilometres away from Shillong, on 2 February 1922. He is one of India's most well known statesman and is often referred to as the 'Father of coalition politics'. B. B. Lyngdoh was a prominent leader of Meghalaya's Hills State movement.

B. B. Lyngdoh
3rd Chief Minister of Meghalaya
In office 10 March 1998 – 8 March 2000
Governor	M. M. Jacob
Preceded by	S. C. Marak
Succeeded by	E. K. Mawlong
In office 26 March 1990 – 10 October 1991
Governor	A. A. Rahim Madhukar Dighe
Preceded by	P. A. Sangma
Succeeded by	President's rule
In office 2 March 1983 – 31 March 1983
Governor	Prakash Mehrotra
Preceded by	Williamson A. Sangma
Succeeded by	Williamson A. Sangma
In office 7 May 1979 – 7 May 1981
Governor	Lallan Prasad Singh
Preceded by	Darwin Diengdoh Pugh
Succeeded by	Williamson A. Sangma
Personal details
Born	2 February 1922 Bengal Presidency, British Raj
Died	27 October 2003(2003-10-27) (aged 81) Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Political party	All Party Hill Leaders Conference
Education	Scottish Church College

Early life

On 2 February 1922, Brington was born to Ajra Singh and Nerimai Lyngdoh at Laitlyngkot village.^[1] He started schooling in Ramakrishna Mission School at Shillong and Cherrapunjee. He attended high school at Government Boys High School. In 1939 he appeared in and secured the first position at the All Khasi and Jaintia Hills M.E. Scholarship Examination. In 1944, he completed his matriculation, after which he joined Guwahati's Cotton College where he completed his Intermediate in Science and attained a Letter Mark in several subjects.

He then attended the Scottish Church College in Calcutta where he took Economics and Mathematics. He later switched to the Arts stream because of his interest in public service. Unfortunately, due to the prevailing Hindu-Muslim riots there at that time, he was forced to return and complete his studies from St. Edmund's College in 1948. He returned to Calcutta University and completed his LLB in 1951.

Career

He began teaching at Mawkhar Christian High School for a year before joining the Shillong Bar in 1952. He was soon elected General Secretary of the newly formed Hills Tribal Union in 1954 (later called the All Party Hills Leaders Conference) in Tura, led by Captain Williamson A. Sangma, whose main agenda was the attainment of a separate State for the six Assam Hills Autonomous districts.

In 1962, B.B. Lyngdoh won his first election and a seat from the Nongpoh constituency of the Assam Assembly.^[1] In 1970, he joined the Meghalaya Autonomous State Cabinet as Finance Minister, a position he continued in till after Meghalaya attained full statehood in 1972. With the dissolution of the All Party Hills Leaders Conference in 1976, he contested again in 1978 from Lyngkyrdem constituency and won.

He served as Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the first time in May, 1979. In 1980, he attended the Commonwealth Conference at Lusaka, Zambia as Chief Minister.

In March, 1983, he led another coalition Government and served as Chief Minister again with the HSPDP.

In 1988, he initiated the All Parties Coalition Government with P.A. Sangma as Chief Minister while he served as chairman, State Planning Board. In 1990, he became the Chief Minister for the third time where he successfully introduced the M.L.A. Scheme to the country.

In 1992, B.B. Lyngdoh formed the Meghalaya Federation. In 1993, he contested in and successively won the Meghalaya Assembly elections for the seventh time and was elected Leader of The Opposition.

In 1998, he was re-elected to the Sixth Legisiative Assembly and served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the fourth time.

Death

Lyngdoh died at the Shillong Civil Hospital on 27 October 2003 at the age of 81.^[1]