Flinder Anderson Khonglam

Flinder Anderson Khonglam Biography

Dr. Flinder Anderson Khonglam was an Indian politician from the north-east state of Meghalaya. He served as the sixth Chief Minister of Meghalaya during 8 December 2001 – 4 March 2003. His name is recorded in the history books of Indian politics as the first independent legislator to serve as the Chief Minister of any Indian state ever. When his predecessor E.K. Mawlong, was forced to resign from office due to scandal involving the construction of the Meghalaya House in Kolkata, Khonglam was elected as the new CM. He was also a physician by profession who worked at Nazreth hospital and a few more government hospital.  

Flinder Anderson Khonglam was born on 6 February 1945 in Malki, Shillong. Born as the ledest child of Richard N. Lyngdoh and L. Khonglam, he had 7 younger siblings. He completed his medical studies and worked as a doctor for a long time before he turned a politician. Known to be a soft person, he remained very influential throughout his life, in both the phases – as a politician and doctor. He got to politics in the late 1970s, when he unsuccessfully contested 1978 state elections. In the next elections in 1983 he contested and won the same seat as an independent candidate defeating the sitting MLA belonging to Hill State People's Democratic Party. However he lost 1988 state assembly elections.

Khonglam represented the Sohra (Cherrapunji) constituency in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for 2 decades. He got re-elected as an independent candidate during 1993 and later, before he was finally defeated in 2008 re-elections. He never contested later.  He suffered from diabetes and had a lot of health issues during the last phase of his life. He passed away in 2012. He was the first Indian independent legislature who became the CM of Meghalaya in 2002, backed by PA Sangma’s NCP.

Published: January 10, 2019

Updated: January 10, 2019