SHILLONG:
In the passing of Robert Garnett Lyngdoh, Meghalaya has lost a multi-faceted personality who played every role with elan – from the corporate to politics and music thrown in for good measure.
His end came at not so advanced an age falling victim to a prolonged illness at his residence here, on Friday. He was just 62.
Born on March 10, 1962, Lyngdoh was the son of former MP and Meghalaya speaker, Peter G Marbaniang, and Q E Lyngdoh.
Late Lyngdoh held a post graduate diploma in Business Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He subsequently worked in the private sector with Mafatlal Group of Companies in Mumbai, Kolkata and the Northeast.
In 1986, he left his job to join theMaharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) as a general manager of Meghalaya Bamboo Chips, a subsidiary of the corporation. He was promoted to post of managing director, but resigned in 1997 after the death of his father. He was also the vice chancellor of Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU).
He first contested the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election in 1998 from Laitumkhrah constituency and won.He was re-elected in 2003 and given charge of Home (Police), Information and Public Relations but was dropped during the down-sizing. He also held the post of chairman of Meghalaya Economic Development Council.
He was involved in promoting sports activities as president of Meghalaya Table Tennis Association and party work as president of the Shillong City Congress Committee.
Besides being a prominent politician, Lyngdoh, who was fondly addressed as “Bob” by his friends, peers and well-wishers, was also an accomplished musician, an avid reader and a member of the famed R&B band of the 1980s, Mojo.
It was not very long ago that he enthralled the audience during a programme at State Central Library by playing his favourite instrument, the harmonica. Now, all of that remains as a memory for those who saw the politician-cum-musician marvel on stage.
Congress: Suspension and comeback
It was way back in June 2008 when Lyngdoh was suspended from the Congress for six years for “anti-party statements and levelling baseless charges” against the party’s high command.
Lyngdoh had then refused to reply to a notice issued by the Congress Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) for calling AICC leaders “greedy”.
The DAC had recommended Lyngdoh’s expulsion, but the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) decided to place him under suspension for six years.
Prior to his suspension in 2008, the Congress had looked upon him as a likely candidate for the then Lok Sabha election.
His suspension triggered a mass resignation of around 304 Congress members, including five office bearers and 13 executive members from the primary membership of the party.
It was in September last year when Lyngdoh, along with other leaders,rejoined the Congress after being persuaded by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent Pala.During his interactions with the press, he had stated that there is a need to strengthen the Grand Old Party.