https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=David_R._SyiemliehDavid R. Syiemlieh - Revision history2026-07-31T18:36:11ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=David_R._Syiemlieh&diff=495768&oldid=prevDrsandeepjhaliver at 20:05, 19 April 20262026-04-19T20:05:09Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian historian and former UPSC Chairman}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox scientist<br />
| name = David Reid Syiemlieh<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|1|22|df=yes}}<br />
| birth_place = Mutrapore, Assam, India<br />
| citizenship = Indian<br />
| fields = History, Public Administration<br />
| workplaces = * [[Union Public Service Commission]] <br> <br />
* [[North Eastern Hill University]]<br />
* [[Rajiv Gandhi University]]<br />
* [[University of Notre Dame]]<br />
* [[Indian Council of Historical Research]]<br />
* [[Indian Council of Social Science Research]]<br />
| alma_mater = [[North Eastern Hill University]]<br />
| known_for = Research on North East Indian history, correction of historical records, UPSC leadership<br />
| awards = * [[Padma Shri]] (2025)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''David Reid Syiemlieh''' (born 22 January 1953) is an Indian historian, academic, and former civil service administrator. He served as Chairman of the [[Union Public Service Commission]] (UPSC) and has held academic roles. In 2025, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] for his contributions to literature and education.<ref name="pib2025">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2025 announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096285 |website=Press Information Bureau |access-date=25 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="highlandpost2025">{{cite web |title=Prof David Syiemlieh honoured with Padma Shri |url=https://highlandpost.com/prof-david-syiemlieh-honoured-with-padma-shri/ |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress_upsc">{{Cite web<br />
|url= https://indianexpress.com/article/education/president-appoints-david-syiemlieh-as-upsc-chairman/<br />
|title=President appoints David Syiemlieh as UPSC chairman<br />
|work=The Indian Express<br />
|date=2 January 2017<br />
|access-date=10 June 2025<br />
}}</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
Syiemlieh attended Dr. Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong (1958–1970), and completed his BA at St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, followed by MA (1976), MPhil (1980), and PhD (1985) in History from [[North Eastern Hill University]] (NEHU), Shillong.<ref>{{cite web |title=NEHU felicitates Prof David R Syiemlieh |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/05/10/nehu-felicitates-prof-david-r-syiemlieh/ |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><br />
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Beginning as a lecturer at St. Edmund’s College (1977–1979), he progressed at NEHU (1979–2011), holding roles including Head of Department, Dean, Registrar, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. He became Vice‑Chancellor of [[Rajiv Gandhi University]], Arunachal Pradesh, in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile of Prof. David R. Syiemlieh |url=https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Prof.%20David%20R.%20Syiemlieh.pdf |publisher=Union Public Service Commission |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref> He also undertook a visiting scholar role at the [[University of Notre Dame]], USA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meghalaya: Prof David R Syiemlieh awarded Padma Shri |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-prof-david-r-syiemlieh-awarded-padma-shri-for-contribution-to-literature-education-1205886-2025-04-28 |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><br />
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Appointed a Member of the UPSC in 2012, he later served as its Chairman from 4 January 2017 until January 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=David R Syiemlieh appointed UPSC chairman |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/david-syiemlieh-appointed-upsc-chairman-117010200323_1.html |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Professor David R Syiemlieh takes oath as UPSC chairman |url=https://www.ndtv.com/jobs/professor-david-r-syiemlieh-takes-oath-as-upsc-chairman-1677163 |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=President appoint academician from NE as the chairman of UPSC |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/president-appoint-academician-from-ne-as-the-chairman-of-upsc-952732-2017-01-02 |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><br />
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=== Historical scholarship ===<br />
Syiemlieh specializes in colonial/post‑colonial Northeast Indian history. He is credited with correcting the widely accepted death date of Khasi freedom fighter [[Tirot Sing]] - from 1834 to 17 July 1835 - after locating primary sources in the Bengal Judicial Consultations.<ref>{{cite web |title=The last days of U Tirot Sing |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/07/18/the-last-days-of-u-tirot-sing-syiem/ |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref> He also clarified that Tirot Sing died under house arrest in Dhaka, not in prison.<ref>{{cite web |title=U Tirot Sing died in 'house arrest' as state prisoner, not in jail |url=https://hubnetwork.in/u-tirot-sing-died-in-house-arrest-as-state-prisoner-not-in-jail-historian-syiemlieh/ |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U Tirot Sing: Khasi Freedom Fighter's Statue Unveiled in Dhaka |url=https://utkarsh.com/current-affairs/u-tirot-sing-khasi-freedom-fighters-statue-unveiled-in-dhaka |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><br />
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== Awards and honours ==<br />
* [[Padma Shri]] (2025) for literature and education<ref name="pib2025"/><ref name="highlandpost2025"/><ref>{{cite web |title=NEHU honours Padma Shri Prof David R Syiemlieh for lifetime contributions |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-nehu-honours-padma-shri-david-r-syiemlieh-for-lifetime-contributions-1211198-2025-05-09 |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref><br />
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== Selected publications ==<br />
* ''British Administration in Meghalaya: Policy and Pattern'' (1989)<br />
* ''They Dared To Hope: The Holy Cross Congregation in India'' (2000)<br />
* ''Survey of Research in History on North East India, 1970–1990'' (2000)<br />
* ''Early States in North East India'' (co-ed., Astral Publishers, 2013)<br />
* ''On the Edge of Empire: Four British Plans for North East India'' (2014)<br />
* ''Layers of History: Essays on the Khasi‑Jaintias'' (2015)<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Syiemlieh, David}}<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:1953 births]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]<br />
[[Category:Chairmen of Union Public Service Commission]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature and education]]<br />
[[Category:Meghalaya academics]]<br />
[[Category:North-Eastern Hill University alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Historians of India]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Christians]]</div>Drsandeepjhaliver