Flinder Anderson Khonglam

Dr. Flinder Anderson Khonglam (6 February 1945 – 22 May 2012) was an Indian politician and physician. He served as the eighth Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 2001 to 2003. Khonglam was the first independent legislator to serve as the Chief Minister of any Indian state in history.

Biography

Early life and career Khonglam was born in Malki, Shillong, Assam (now Meghalaya) on 6 February 1945. He became the first independent Chief Minister of an Indian state in history.

His ministry had 37 members, including 28 of cabinet rank, making it then the largest in the state's history. Many of the ministers already had ministerial positions in the previous government. Former chief minister D. D. Lapang was made the deputy chief minister. Khonglam served as Chief Minister until 4 March 2003.

Later life Khonglam was defeated for re-election in the 2008 legislative election by Dr. Phlour W. Khongjee of the Indian National Congress party.

He suffered from diabetes, which contributed to health problems in his later life, including one documented diabetic stroke. Khonglam fainted at his home in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, on 22 May 2012. He was taken to Bethany Hospital in Shillong, where he died at 6:30 p.m. IST on 22 May 2012, at the age of 67. Khonglam was buried in a cemetery in Malki. Dignitaries in attendance at the funeral included the Meghalaya Deputy Chief Ministers, Bindo Lanong and Rowell Lyngdoh, and Hopingstone Lingdoh, the leader of the Hill State People's Democratic Party.