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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Evansius Kek Mawlong
|image =
|order = 7th
|office = Chief Minister of Meghalaya
|term_start = 8 March 2000
|term_end = 8 December 2001
|governor = [[M. M. Jacob]]
|predecessor = [[B. B. Lyngdoh]]
|successor = [[Flinder Anderson Khonglam]]
|birth_date = 1 February 1946
|birth_place = Mawmih Village, [[East Khasi Hills district]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|10|18|1946|2|1|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Shillong]], [[Meghalaya]], [[India]]
|party = [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]]
|spouse = Angelina Riazida Lyngdoh
|children = 6
|alma_mater = [[St. Anthony's College, Shillong]]
|resting_place = Mawprem Catholic Cemetery, Shillong
}}
'''Evansius Kek Mawlong''' (1 February 1946 – 18 October 2008) was an Indian [[politician]] who served as the [[Chief Minister of Meghalaya]] from 8 March 2000, until 8 December 2001.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|title=EK Mawlong passes away|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081019/jsp/frontpage/story_9989062.jsp |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]] |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2012-06-16}}</ref><ref name="hindustan">{{cite news|title=Former Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong dies |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Meghalaya/Former-Meghalaya-Chief-Minister-EK-Mawlong-dies/Article1-345527.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126010457/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Meghalaya/Former-Meghalaya-Chief-Minister-EK-Mawlong-dies/Article1-345527.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2013 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2012-06-16}}</ref> He was the main architect in the formation of the [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]] in Meghalaya and was its Founding President.

==Biography==

===Early life===
E.K. Mawlong was born on 1 February 1946,<ref name=outlook>{{cite news |title=Former Meghalaya CM E K Mawlong dies |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=621792 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131002529/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=621792 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2013 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2012-06-16 }}</ref> in [[Mawmih]] village, [[East Khasi Hills District]], in present-day [[Meghalaya]].<ref name=assamtribune>{{cite news|title=E K Mawlong passes away |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct1908/at07 |work=[[Assam Tribune]] |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2012-06-16}}</ref> He earned his [[Bachelor of Science]] from [[St. Anthony's College, Shillong]] in 1969.<ref name=assamtribune/> Mawlong then began his professional career as a [[teacher]] in St. Dominic Savio High School, Shillong, working from 1968 until June 1971.<ref name=telegraph/> He also worked for the state [[Accountant General]]'s office.<ref name=telegraph/>

===Family and personal life===
E.K. Mawlong married Angelina Riazida Lyngdoh in 1978. They have four (4) sons and two (2) daughters.

===Political career===
Mawlong's political career began in 1972, when he was elected to the [[Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council]] as an [[Independent (politician)|independent]].<ref name=telegraph/> He joined the Indian National Congress party in 1975, serving as the President of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress and a member of the national [[Indian Youth Congress]], the youth wing of the Congress Party.<ref name=telegraph/>

Mawlong was first elected to the [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] in 1978 as an independent representing the [[Umroi]] constituency.<ref name=telegraph/> He was appointed Minister of State in the then regional coalition known as the Three Flag Government, which lasted only for three months. He was re-elected from the Umroi seat in 1983, 1988 and 1993 state legislative elections as a member of the [[Hill State People's Democratic Party]] (HSPDP).<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=assamtribune/> He also served as the General Secretary of the HSPDP during this period till September 1997.<ref name=telegraph/> He briefly served as a [[cabinet minister]] from 1990 to 1991 within Meghalaya Chief Minister [[B.B. Lyngdoh]]'s administration in the MUPP coalition Government.<ref name=telegraph/>

Mawlong left the HSPDP in September 1997 and was the founder and main architect in the formation of the [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]] (UDP).<ref name=telegraph/> He was elected as the founding President of the UDP on 11 September 1997 and served as the party's leader until 2004.<ref name=telegraph/> Under his leadership, the UDP emerged victorious with 20 seats in the 1998 Assembly General Elections, which was the largest number mustered by any regional party after the dissolution of the All People Hill's Leaders Conference (APHLC). He was re-elected to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 1998 as a UDP candidate, earning a fifth consecutive term in the assembly.<ref name=telegraph/>

He also served as the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from 1983 to 1988, and again from 1998 to 7 March 2000.<ref name=telegraph/> Mawlong was known for strictly maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House. His ruling's in the Assembly are highly revered and are referred to often by the other Meghalaya Speaker's.<ref>Ithuh u Lamphang ia ka MPF kum ka Liang Pyrshah ha Iing Dorbar (Rupang) http://urupang.com/ithuh-u-lamphang-ia-ka-mpf-kum-ka-liangpyrshah-ha-iing-durbar/</ref>

===Chief Minister of Meghalaya===
Mawlong became the [[Chief Minister of Meghalaya]] on 8 March 2000. He was unanimously elected by the Legislature Party to replace then incumbent and fellow party member, B. B. Lyngdoh. His 18-month tenure was embroiled in a [[scandal]] stemming from the construction of Meghalaya House in [[Kolkata]].<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=hindustan/> Two allied political parties, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and [[Nationalist Congress Party]] (NCP), withdrew their support for Mawlong and he was forced to step down from office on 8 December 2001.<ref name=hindustan/> He was succeeded by [[Flinder Anderson Khonglam]].

Mawlong was defeated in the Assembly General Election in 2003 by Stanlywiss Rymbai of the Congress Party.<ref name=telegraph/> The fallout from the Meghalaya House was seen as the key factor in the loss of his seat.<ref name=telegraph/> Facing huge pressure especially from the Khasi Students' Union and the People's Rally Against Corruption (PRAC), Mawlong cancelled the agreement with the then Asian Housing Corporation Limited (AHCL). However, after his resignation as Chief Minister, the subsequent Government allotted the construction to the same company (AHCL) at four times the initial cost.<ref>Frequent modifications led to cost escalation (The Shillong Times) http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2013/08/12/frequent-modifications-led-to-cost-escalation/</ref> To clear his name from the corruption allegations, Mawlong filed a Writ Petition in the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court.<ref>Meghalaya Government must clear my name: Mawlong http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20070417/638692.html</ref>

On 28 January 2008, the [[Guwahati High Court]] cleared Mawlong of wrongdoing in the Meghalaya House scandal.<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=hindustan/> In its ruling, the court ordered the Meghalaya state government not to pursue charges against Mawlong in the case.<ref name=telegraph/><ref>E. K. Mawlong vs State Of Meghalaya And Ors. on 28 January 2008 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1808137/</ref>

However, Mawlong ran for his old Umroi constituency in Ri Bhoi district in the February 2008 legislative election.<ref name=telegraph/> He defeated incumbent Congress Party MLA Stanlywiss Rymbai, the same person who had ousted Mawlong from office in the 2003 election.<ref name=telegraph/>

His health began to decline rapidly following the 2008 election. Mawlong died at Shillong Civil Hospital on 18 October 2008, at the age of 62.<ref name=telegraph/> Mawlong was offered a [[state funeral]] by the Government of Meghalaya but his family declined it.<ref>[5] Former CM family members refuse state funeral http://news.oneindia.in/2008/10/19/former-cm-family-members-refuse-state-funeral-1224432209.html</ref><ref>Mawlong laid to rest http://news.oneindia.in/2008/10/20/mawlong-laid-to-rest-1224510000.html</ref> This was the first ever case of a former Chief Minister in independent India being laid to rest without State honors. He was given a simple burial, amidst presence of thousands of well wishers, in Mawprem Catholic cemetery.<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=assamtribune/> A resident of [[Shillong]], he was survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters.<ref name=hindustan/>

===Contribution===
Mawlong was well known for his unique vision, integrity, easy access, humility and patience which earned him affection of his friends, well wishers and supporters. His long tenure as the representative of Umroi was entirely due to his effort in bringing huge infrastructural, medical and developmental activities in his constituency. He took keen interest towards the economic growth of his constituency and of the State.

During his tenure as Chief Minister, he had taken huge efforts to settle the long pending boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya along with his Assam counterpart, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. He took unique initiatives negotiating with the Ministry of Defence in obtaining underutilized defence plots for construction of public parking lots in Garikhana, Khlieh Iewduh and Upper Mawprem areas to ease traffic congestion in Shillong City. His efforts in reclaiming plots for public utility are recalled by many.<ref>http://www.ohmeghalaya.com/committee-to-decide-on-land-transfer/</ref> He also took strong initiatives to kickstart the processes for construction of the National Highway Shillong Bye Pass, Myntdu-Leshka Hydel Project and North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

As Minister incharge Law Department in 1990-91 he mooted the idea of creating a separate High Court for Meghalaya. He fervently followed this initiation as Chief Minister with Arun Jaitley the then Union Law Minister. The Meghalaya High Court was finally inaugurated in 2013. His pet project as Chief Minister was the road linkage from Lad Umroi - Mawlasnai to Diphu in Assam with financial assistance from the North Eastern Council which gave a lifeline to the people living in the disputed Block II area.

As Minister incharge General Administration Department (GAD) in 1990-91, he met the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, [[Jyoti Basu]], to seek a plot of land in Kolkata for construction of the second Meghalaya House. Basu introduced him to Buddhadeb Bhattarcharya and Meghalaya was allotted a plot of land in Shantipally, East Kolkata near Rash Behari Area, where the second Meghalaya House now stands. Sadly, when his Government took steps to construct a new building to replace the dilapidated Meghalaya House in Russell Street, Kolkata he was accused of corruption and due to massive political and social turmoil, he had to step down as Chief Minister.

As Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly 1983-88, he met the then Deputy Chairman of the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]], [[Dr Manmohan Singh|Dr. Manmohan Singh]] seeking financial assistance for the setting up of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly printing press. After thorough deliberations, Dr. Manmohan Singh sanctioned the funds required for setting up of the printing press. The press serves till this day for printing numerous documents required by the Meghalaya Assembly Secretariat. It was during his tenure as Speaker, that Meghalaya hosted the SAARC Ministerial Meet in Shillong in 1986 which was a huge success. The then Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India inaugurated the session.

===Other activities===
E.K. Mawlong was the longest serving President of the Catholic Association in Khasi Jaiñtia Hills of Meghalaya. He had served the Catholic Association for 17 years till the year 2005 as he voluntary gave up the post due to health reasons. His effort for arranging the visit of [[Pope John Paul II]] to Shillong, is fondly remembered. He stayed in New Delhi for two long weeks in order to convince the Ministry of Home Affairs to clear the Papal visit. After a hard-fought debate with its officials, Mawlong convinced the Ministry of Home Affairs to allow the Pope to visit Shillong. Pope John Paul II was allowed to visit Shillong on 4 February 1986<ref>200,000 HEAR POPE IN INDIA'S NORTHEAST https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/05/world/200000-hear-pope-in-india-s-northeast.html</ref><ref>http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1986/Former-Headhunters-Greet-Pope-for-Mass-on-Himalayan-Golf-Course/id-7448cf87e8f2104d6a7aa86ac929f579</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Eucharistic Concelebration at the golf course of Shillong - Homily of His Holiness John Paul II | url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1986/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19860204_shillong-calcutta.html | date=4 February 1986 | publisher=Vatican | access-date=28 November 2018 }}</ref> for only three hours due to security concerns.

Mawlong was also the President of the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Employees Union for 25 years. He had held the post till his demise in 2008.

===Awards===
'''National Citizen's Award''' in the year 2001

'''Best Citizen of India''' awarded by the International Publishing House, New Delhi in the year 2000

'''Manav Sewa Purashkar''' awarded by the Institute of Economic Studies in the year 1998

'''Bharat Jyoti Award '''in the year 2008

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Chief Ministers of Meghalaya}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mawlong, E.K.}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Meghalaya MLAs 1998–2003]]
[[Category:People from Shillong]]
[[Category:People from East Khasi Hills district]]
[[Category:United Democratic Party (Meghalaya) politicians]]
[[Category:Meghalaya politicians]]
[[Category:State funerals in India]]

E. K. Mawlong - Revision history

->SdkbBot at 02:21, 5 January 2022