As a mark of respect to the late JD Rymbai, former Chief Minister and Speaker of Meghalaya, the state government has declared three days of state mourning from April 21 to 23.
Rymbai died at the age of 87 early today morning.
During the period of state mourning, there will be no official entertainment and the national flag will be flown at half mast at all government establishments throughout the state.
Rymbai is survived by his wife Peggymon Pathaw, three daughters and two sons.
Rymbai was born on October 26, 1934 in a humble family. He rose to become a prominent political figure in Meghalaya with his unique qualities of honesty and sincerity.
As he was poor, he could not continue his studies initially but with hardwork he obtained graduation and B Ed which landed the job of a government assistant teacher. Later, he became the head master in a government school.
After entering politics, Rymbai contested and won the Jirang Assembly seat in Ri Bhoi on a Congress ticket, in 1988.
Till 2008, he was elected from the same seat continuously and held the post of Deputy Speaker, Minister, Speaker and went on to become Chief Minister in June 2006 after replacing his loyalist DD Lapang who, however, bounced back to replace Rymbai in March 2007 following the direction of Congress High Command.
He quit the Congress in 2008 and won from UDP from the same seat. In 2013 and 2018, he did not contest the Assembly polls.
