Shillong, Oct 25: An event felicitating the Volunteers of the Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA), who fought in the Hill State Movement, was organised on Monday by the family of (L) Erick Bremly Lyngdoh along with the support of Meghalaya’s Chief Minister’s Office, folk-fusion band Summersalt and Meghalaya Model United Nations (MMUN) at Spring Valley Farm, Mawpat, East Khasi Hills.
The volunteers who were present at the event included A.S Mawlong, Sharai Nongbri, Trueman Lyngdoh and Augustin Marbaniang. They were all felicitated at the event followed by the senior members of MMUN pledging to the NVDA members to contribute to the state as it celebrates its 50 years of statehood and to also observe the 77th anniversary of the United Nations on the theme of ‘Non-Violence and Food Security’.
Bremly W.B Lyngdoh, son of (L) Erick Bremly Lyngdoh stated, “Back in the 1960s they (NVDA) adopted the principles of moral re-armament now called the initiative of change. They got their training in Panchgani- a Nation’s Plateau. Few leaders met (for the cause) but they did not go the violent way, otherwise we would have had blood shed or maybe we would have never got our hill state or we might have been still in Assam or maybe become a Union Territory but because of the Hill State leaders who were trained in Non-Violent Direct Action and because of the Non-Violent Direct Action Volunteers we are what we are today.”
He further added that the NVDA, which was formed on March 31, 1963, comprised of youths who were directly involved in the Hill State Movement along with (L) Eric Bremley Lyngdoh, who was also one of the leaders of the Hill State Movement.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Frederick R Kharkongor stated that the NVDA volunteers, along with its leaders, composed songs and poetry and further briefed the 9 moral values which was followed by every NVDA volunteers during those days.
The programme concluded with songs of the Hill State Movement and songs connected to Meghalaya’s vision performed by various artistes led by Summersalt.
