Shillong, October 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday called for communal harmony, secularism and mutual respect, urging people to love their own communities without harbouring hatred towards others.
Addressing the centenary celebration of The Meghalaya Hindu Mission at Mawprem in Shillong, Sangma said respect for different faiths and cultures was essential for the state’s progress and the well-being of society.
“We should love our community, but never hate others,” the Chief Minister said, emphasising that every community contributes to Meghalaya’s social fabric and has an important role in its development.
Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai and MLA Paul Lyngdoh were also present at the event.
Sangma praised the Mission for its 100 years of philanthropic and social welfare work, saying organisations dedicated to public service help strengthen peace, understanding and harmony among communities.
Referring to the state government’s work over the past eight years, he said welfare initiatives had been designed to benefit all citizens, irrespective of their community or background.
“Every religion shares a common message of service and brotherhood,” Sangma said, welcoming the participation of diverse cultural groups, including indigenous communities, in the centenary celebrations.
He also urged young people to put these values into practice in their daily lives, highlighting compassion, honesty and helping those in need as principles shared by different faiths.
Established in 1926 as the Hindu Sammelan Anath Ashram, The Meghalaya Hindu Mission was founded to support vulnerable sections of society and promote social welfare.
Its original objectives included establishing an orphanage for destitute children, opening schools and libraries for needy students, combating untouchability and other social practices, and providing vocational training to women to promote self-reliance.
Over the decades, the Mission has also contributed land for public and community purposes. Around 27,425 square feet has been ceded for various uses, including land for the Mawprem Presbyterian Church and the widening of Mawprem Road.
The Mission’s Homes for Boys and Girls at Lower Mawprem are registered Child Care Institutions under the Juvenile Justice Act. The facilities provide children in need of care and protection with shelter, food, clothing, education, medical care and recreational facilities, supported by government child-maintenance grants.
The centenary celebration highlighted the Mission’s longstanding role in social welfare and Sangma’s appeal for communities to preserve their distinct identities while fostering mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
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