Editor,
Right from the very early 1980s onwards oftentimes I have heard from words of mouth from elders about the name of Langpih and its neighbouring villages and the people living there. I took great interest to know more about it and the villages in and around it inhabited by different Khasi communities. Then luckily I got a chance to read the article “Gen-Z deserve to know the history of Langpih” Written by one Pynshai Joel Dkhar which both appeared on May 15, 2025 in “Highland Post” and “The Shillong Times”. From this article I learnt some important and interesting information about the places and the inhabitants there. Apart from facing the harsh conditions that the residents of the villages living in and around the Langpih areas due to absence of road connectivity and other amenities which are available in developed Meghalaya areas today and how the inhabitants back then had to endure various kinds of hardships, sacrifices trials and tribulations and how in particular, they had to stoutly defend their land with their own lives against the Nepali migrants from Assam who forcefully took away the Khasi rightful land with full backing from Assam police stationed at Langpih OUT POST itself. Not only that, these Nepali illegal migrants from Assam by force occupied the Khasi areas led by their Goan Burra with the full backing of Assam Police, prevented volunteers from construction of the road from Ktiehthawiar to Langpih then to MawlanA and B a distance of about 5 kms. These are very important information indeed not only for Gen-Z but also even for mid ages and elders today. We cannot deny the fact that the article has grossly politicised the Langpih border issue which was ceaselessly championed first by the well-known grand old politician, The great Hopingstone Lyngdoh Nonglait and followed on his heels by former MLA of Rambrai-Jyrngam, Mr. K. P Pangniang. But that is alright as they stood for the right cause.
However, the article in question has not informed anything about the Khasi communities who settled in many villages spread out in the Langpih areas who migrated there in search of more fertile agricultural lands because the areas are generally and topographically called “The Rimen Jyrngam”. Moreover, the article did not mention from which Elakas of the upland West Khasi Hills the Khasi communities had migrated to the Langpih areas. The areas previously were inhabited by the Khasi ‘Muliangs’ and Westward of Langpih lived the Khasi ‘Nongtrais’. But today all these areas are co-inhabited by the mixed Khasi population migrated by the hard working people from upland regions of Maram, Mawiang, Rambrai and Nongstoin and other areas. Moreover, road connectivity and other forms of digital communications are available in the areas today. Yes, today there is good road connectivity from Langpih -Nongma A-Nongma B- Umwahlang-Nonglang- Siangra -Kriangrin- Rwiang- Mawlangdep- Mawiaban to reach Nongstoin the District Headquarters which is about 70 kms; Then there is good road from Langpih to Mawlan A-Mawlan B- Tiehthawiar- Langja- Umthlu- Umthlong-Mawtho- Kraha- Mawmareh- Nongkhlan- Tynghor- Domjarain- Mawram- Langsah- Mikadop- Langngor- Aradongnga- Umsaitwait- Katiabazar- Hahim about 17 kms; again there is good road from Langpih to Umsaran-Nongdron-Wapara to reach Boko about 29 kms. Again there is a good road from Umwahlang- Kyrdum- Mawsikar – Lawbah – Umwali till Langpih village market approximately 9 km.
Now what is of paramount urgency is to have road connectivity eastwards of Langpih village beginning from Langpih to Nongmawlein to Iewnongma then to Nongsohram -Sohmarang – Nongma – Nongdron – Wapara – Dalimara- Dalathuwa – Nongdangkob- Umdiongsior – Umthli then to meet the two lane Road from Nongstoin – Rambrai – Kyrshai at Kyrshai (34 km approx) then follow the Kyrshai – Nongstoin two lane road cross over the Nongdron river via Rcc bridge to Ukiam village then meet the National Highway Guwahati – Boko -Goalpara at Choigoan. Another most important agenda for the Nongstoin PWD is to convert the Rwiang – Kriangrin – Siangra – Nonglang – Umwahlang – Langpih (approximately 70 km) into an intermediate road. Another very important road connectivity for the Nongstoin PWD is to construct immediately a road connectivity which was proposed and surveyed from Mawkhiat – Mawkapiah – Kyndongngei – Umit to Umwahlang or to Nonglang (25 km approximately) to meet the Nongstoin – Kriangrin – Langpih either at Nonglang or Umwahlang. These are the urgent needs of the time and I have the firm belief that the NPP government under the farsighted and dynamic stewardship of Conrad Sangma and an able and broad minded Dy. CM of Bah Prestone Tynsong the long isolated and neglected Langpih vast areas and Rambrai-Jyrngam constituency will see the light of day which include solving the protracted and nagging problem of Langpih sector border issue.
Philip Marwein,
Sr. Journalist
