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AN INDIAN POLITICAL ICON LAID TO REST
Paty Ripple Kyndiah, the former Union Minister, was buried with full State Honours at the All Saints’ Cathedral Cemetery, Shillong on March 29, 2015.
The funeral service began at the late leader’s residence at Lower New Colony, Laitumkhrah in the presence of several legislators.
The casket containing his mortal remains and draped with the Tricolour was then carried to St. Anthony’s Ground, Laitumkhrah where the state dignitaries laid floral wreaths on the coffin.
The Meghalaya Police accorded a gun salute as a mark of respect to the departed leader. Braving the spring showers, the citizens of the state thronged the grounds for one last glimpse of their lost hero. Ministers and officials, friends and family alongwith well-wishers all joined together at the solemn occasion to pay their homage.
The Chief Adviser to the state government D D Lapang recalled him as a "man of passion, mission and determination" and said his passing away was a great loss to the family, the state and the nation as a whole.
On behalf of the members of the Assembly, Speaker A T Mondal offered his tributes to the late leader saying it was one of the saddest moments in the history of Meghalaya. "Late Kyndiah never lost an election in his lifetime and this only shows the amount of faith the people had in him," he said, adding that he had been a guiding force to all the members in the Assembly especially to the new members.
Home Minister Roshan Warjri recalled the services of Kyndiah to the state and the nation in various capacities, saying she would greatly miss his "towering presence".
On behalf of the bereaved family, L K Kyndiah, son of Late Kyndiah, expressed his gratitude to the state for the respect bestowed upon his late father and said that besides being a great political leader, he was a “loving and caring father and the closest friend we had.”
Among others, the floral tribute on behalf of the Governor K N Tripathi was paid by Principal Secretary M S Rao, while Dikkanchi D Shira, wife of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Chairperson of Meghalaya Resource Mobilization & Employment Generation Council, paid tribute on behalf of the Chief Minister.
In addition to a lustrous political career, Late Kyndiah was also a very prominent societal figure actively involved in various social services. He was the author of some critically acclaimed books including “Jawaharlal Nehru: the Thinking Dynamo”, “Meghalaya: Yesterday and Today, “Journey of Words”, “Rev. JJM Nichols Roy: Architect of District Council Autonomy” and “Mizo Freedom Fighters”.
The dynamic doyen had also graced the 15th year anniversary celebration of Eastern Panorama as the Chief Guest during his tenure as Cabinet Minister for Tribal Affairs in 2007.
The 86 year old veteran breathed his last on March 26, 2015 at Bethany Hospital where he was admitted following a cardiac arrest. He is now survived by his wife, two daughters, three sons, a host of grandchildren and great grand children. The octogenarian had retired from active politics in 2009, prior to the Lok Sabha polls.
| 1970 – 1993 | Member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly |
| 1975 – 1988 | Cabinet Minister in the Government of Meghalaya for four successive terms |
| 1979 – 1981 | Leader of the Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly |
| 1987 | Acting Chief Minister of Meghalaya |
| 1989 – 1993 | Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly |
| 1993 – 1998 | Governor of Mizoram |
| 2004 | Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and DoNER Minister |
| 1998, 1999 & 2004 | Elected as Member of the Lok Sabha from the Shillong constituency |
