The complete history of Shillong - a Chronology (1303 - 1974)

1303  In and around the Surma and the Kushiara, a patchwork of territories had emerged when Shah Jalal conquered local rajas and established Islam in Sylhet, creating a new Muslim cultural boundary[1].

1346 When the traveller Ibn Batuta met Shah Jalal, the Sylhet landscape held diverse territories of Khasis, Garos, Hindus, Muslims and others.

1627  The first recorded contact of the Assamese with the Catholic missionaries, when the Tibet-bound Jesuit missionaries, Stephen Cacella and John Cabral visited Goalpara and Kamrup districts on their way to Tibet.       

1707  In 1707, the Khasis and the Jaintias jointly thwarted Ahom King Rudra Singh's invasion of Jaintiapur.

1757  When the East India Company took Bengal from the Nawabs, the old northeastern frontiers of Mugal Bengal posed may problems. Khasis held most land north of the Surma and ruled mountains above. Jaintia Khasi rajas held mountains and lowlands north and east of Sylhet town.

           Battle of Plassey.

1765  The East India Company acquires the district of Sylhet, as a result of the grant of the Diwani of Bengal (along with Bihar and Orissa) and the first contact is made between the British and the inhabitants of the Khasi Hills. The Khasis were located north of Sylhet district, and the Jaintias were to the north-east. At that time about half of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills district, including the country around the capital, Shillong, was outside the limits of British India, consisting of a collection of small states in political relations, regulated by treaty with the Government of India, which enjoyed almost complete autonomy in the management of their local affairs.

The inhabitants of K&J Hills first became known to the civilised world, when the East India Company established its stations in Bengal. At that time the Khasis not only inhabited the Hills, but also some portions of the Plains of Assam proper to the north, and Sylhet to the south. The town of Sylhet and the villages of Pandua and Chhatak were once in their possession. It was probably about this time that the Khasis obtained possession of those tracts of land in the Plains which they still continue to cultivate.

At this time the Khasis used to come to pandua an the border of Sylhet to trade in silk, cotton goods, iron, wax, honey and ivory in exchange for rice, salt and dried fish[2]. Limestone from the Khasi Hills used to fulfill the demand in Bengal then. Soon British officials of the East India Company began trading in limestone and thus came in contact with the Khasis.

1772-85 Warren Hasting’s Governorship[3].

1774  A punitive expedition was conducted into the Jaintia Hills under the command of Major Henniker. It is probable that aggressions against the inhabitants of the Plains had rendered punishment necessary.

1778  The officials of the East India Company were aware of the export business of limestone which was done from the Khasi Hills in the year 1778.

1779 Robert Lidsay, the Collector of Sylhet, leased some lime quarries, which led to frontier troubles with the Khasis. This led to frontier troubles with the Khasis. 

To hold the mountaineers in check, Regulation. No. 1 of 1779 was passed declaring freedom of trade between them (Khasis) and Sylhet but prohibiting the supply to them of arms and ammunition, for forbidding anyone to pass the Company's frontier towards the hills with arms in his hand.

A series of outrages committed on the adjacent country, at length drew on them the attention of the Marquis of Cornwallis, who issued Orders were at the same time given for the definition of the boundary line and the collector was directed to inform the Khasis that they would not for the future,' be permitted to come down armed, within the line of the Company's frontier.

1780 By this time, limestone was the most important mountain product, and it came only from quarries in the high northern mountains, in what is today Meghalaya[4]. Khasi rajas around Pandua (near Bholaganj)[5] controlled quarries from which limestone came down the Dhamalia river on boats to Sunamganj.   

1780-90 The hill tribes of K&J were known to the British as troublesome and dangerous marauders. They made frequent attacks upon the inhabitants of Sylhet. Their ravages were especially daring during this period. A line of forts were established at the foot of the Hills to check their incursions.

1783 Khasi mountain warriors seized Pandua and the passes around. Sporadic warfare continued for 7 years between East India Company armies and Khasi rajas around Pandua.

The Khasis attacked Pandua to avenge an insult offered to one of them by the Havildar of Robert Lindsay. The servant of Lindsay was killed and his lime kilns were destroyed. The prisoners taken were killed and scalped.

1784 Massive floods disrupted life drastically in the plains and mountains and famines ensued. This made the jungles between Pandua and Sunamganj more attractive to lowland farmers and investors.

1786  David Scott was born on the 14 May 1786 (August according to memoir) in the North-East part of Scotland.

1788  Conflict began in lowland forest villages north of Sunamganj, during flood induced famines.  

1789  Early that year, two lowland Bengali Khasi warrior rajas, Ganga Singh and Aboo Singh, captured numerous villages and controlled several river routes. In the summer rebel Khasis and Bengali Khasis controlled 137 Bengali villages, Ganga Singh escaped to the hills, and Aboo Singh attached the Pandua fort, killing its commander.

Marquis of Cornwallis, issued Orders for the definition of the boundary line and the collector was directed to inform the Khasis that they would not be permitted to come down armed, within the line of the Company’s frontier.

1790 The English launched a war on two fronts, in mountains around Pandua and in jungles behind Sunamganj. Early that year, Company troops conquered most people below the mountains, and open warfare ended after the British commander ordered the massacre of Bengal Khasis aroung Ganga Sing’s home village. But Pandua was lost irretrievably to mountain Khasi rajas.

1791   In November, the 35^th Sepoy Battalion left Sylhet. The new state boundary drawn between British Bengal and mountain Khasi domains became a reality based on Khasi victories in the mountains and British victories below. The new border ran along the base of the mountains and bisected the route from Sunamganj to Pandua.

1792  The impact of the new border fell most heavily on Khasis below the mountains. Government began auctioning Khasi land and a year later the process was almost complete.

1793   Permanent settlement at Bengal.

1797  By this year, land formerly owned by Khasi Bengalis had been occupied by Bengalis.

1799 Serampore in present day West Bengal was under the protection of the King of Denmark[6]. The early British rulers of India were not in favour of the Christian missionaries setting up missions in India. So, William Carey (1761-1834) a Baptist hailing from Northamptonshire established his mission in Serampore, which came to be known as the “The Cradle of Modern Missions.”

1800 A few business minded Khasis were found emigrated to Comilla, Dacca, Calcutta and other places even before the year 1800.

1802  David Scott was selected for service in India on 27 January 1802. He joined Fort William College, Calcutta, on 15th October 1802.

1803  6th Bengal Native Infantry (Light Infantry – late 43 Native Infantry – Kyne-ke-daheena Pultun - Raised 1803) – Linked  with 4th and 5th Regiments[7]. Head Quarters at Shillong. Detachments at Dibrooghur, Jowai and Silchar. Uniform, Red, Facings, White.

1813   Charter Renewal: free trade and admission of missionaries.

On 7 April, the first convert of Serampore Mission, Krishna Chandra Pal, proceed to Pandua (a trading post at the foot of the Khasi Hills immediately below Cherrapunjee) from Sylhet. Pandua was an important market and a meeting place of Khasis and Bengalis. Though it lies in the Plains, it still belonged to the Khasi kingdom of Cherrapunjee (Sohra). Entry to the Khasi Hills was primarily from the Sylhet plains through the Dwars – trading gateways – alongside rivers exiting into the plains from the hills and one travelled to Calcutta through East Bengal. A short while later, 7 people were baptised (including 2 Khasis) by Krishna by the banks of the Dlebolisshore river, in the presence of 8 native chiefs and 600 Khasis. On Pal’s return to Serampore, William Carey felt encouraged to begin translation of the Bible into Khasi language using Bengali script. Pal never returned to the Khasis.

The favourable reports given by Krishna and others respecting the Khasis, moved Dr. William Carey to provide a translation of the New Testament in their language. The work was commenced in 1813, and an edition of 500 copies, printed in Bengali characters, was published in 1824.

An effort was made early in 1815 to revive the work of Krishna Pal,  and a Portuguese brother, John De Silva was sent to Sylhet, together with a young Brahmin convert, Bhagvat, a native of Serampore. De Silva was chiefly employed instructing a number of destitute Portuguese who resided at Sylhet.

1815-30 Activity of Ram Mohan Roy and the Serampore missionaries.

1816  One of the English gentleman at Sylhet responded to William Carey expressing regret that he could then give no information “respecting the wild and savage race on the mountains, for at present it is very dangerous to go to these Hills. Two of these mountain Khasis were hanged at Sylhet a few days since, and another is condemned to remain in gaol for life, for murdering the Company’s subjects.”

1816  The Baptist Missionary Society of England had established the Serampore Mission which operated independently from the year 1816.

1817  An incident occurred over the lease of limestone quarries by the Syiem of Langrin to Inglis and Company, at an area called Lour (between Bogles Churrah on the west and Punatit on the east) for a term of 10 years.

1818  The Serampore mission work in Sylhet was abandoned.

1821 The tea plant was first discovered growing in the wild in Upper Assam.

         An attempt was made by a part of raiders from Jaintia to carry off a number of British subjects from Sylhet, to be offered as human sacrifices. The matter was brought to the notice of the Government, and the Rajah warned that any similar attempt would be punished with the forfeiture of his territory.

        A dispute occurred when the Syiem of Nongstoin questioned the authority of the Syiem of Langrin over the quarries and in the process came into conflict with Inglis and Company. In September, the Khasi traders raided the area and carried off 7 of the Company’s men. The Nongstoin Syiem afterwards granted the lease to a French businessman.

1822 In November, David Scott (known as Iskat Sahep to the Khasis) was appointed Agent to the Governor General for North East Frontier.

In 1822, David Scott was made Civil Commissioner of the North-East parts of Rangpur.

1824-26 First Burman War: Arakan and Tenasserim annexed.

1824  After the Burmese invasion of Assam, the British began their campaign against the Burmese. The outbreak of the first Burma War brought the British into closer relations with the Raja of Jaintia, and in April of that year Mr. David Scott, the Governor-General's Agent on the frontier, marched through his territory from Sylhet to Assam, emerging at Raha on the Kalang river, in what is now the Nowgong district. This was the first occasion on which Europeans had entered the hill territory of the Khasi tribes. After the First Burmese War, the Ava kingdom ceded the provinces of Manipur, Tenassarim, and Arakan to the British. Lower Assam (originally Koch Hajo) was formally annexed.

On 10 March, 1824 two years before the Treaty of Yandaboo was signed, a treaty was concluded between David Scott, Agent to the Governor General on the part of the East India Company and "Ram Singh of Jaintia". By this Treaty, Ram Singh acknowledged allegiance to the Company and placed his country under the protection of the English.

After the Treaty was signed, David Scott marched through the Jaintia territory with an escort of three Companies of the 23rd Regiment Native Infantry under Captain Horsburge. This was the second occasion on which Europeans had entered the hill territory of the Khasi tribes.

Ever since this year, the relation between the English and the Khasi states was regulated by treaties, engagements and negotiations.

44th Bengal Native Infantry (Goorkha Light Infantry – late 44th Sylhet Light Infantry. Raised 19 February 1824) – Linked  with 42^nd and 43^th Regiments[8]. Head Quarters at Manipore, Depot at Shillong. Uniform, Dark Green, Facings, Black.

Dr. William Carey was moved to provide a translation of the New Testament in their language. The work was commenced in 1813, and an edition of 500 copies, printed in Bengali characters, was published in 1824.

1825   An agreement was entered into with the Raja of Jaintia, Ram Sing, by which he promised to aid the British forces, should the Burmese attempt to enter the Assam valley by way of his territory. None of the conditions of the treaty were fulfilled. The British defeated the Burmese in upper Assam leading to the Treaty of Yandaboo.

1826  Early in the year, at the conclusion of the Burmese war, a treaty was made by which Assam proper, was ceded to the British. Assam was included as a part of the Bengal Presidency. The Khasi Hills now, therefore, lay between two British possessions – the Assam valley in the north, and the Plains of Sylhet in the south. After the expulsion of the Burmese from Assam and the occupation of that province by the Company, Mr. David Scott (the Governor General’s Agent and Commissioner of Assam since 1826) entered the Khasi Hills (with Major White to Nongkhlaw on 1 November 1826) in order to negotiate for the construction of a road through the territory of the Khasi Siem or Chief of Nongkhlaw (U Teerut Singh), which aimed to link Sylhet with Gauhati.

On 3 November 1826, an Agreement was signed between David Scott, Agent to the Governor General,  and Tirot Singh, Syiem of Nongkhlaw. By this Agreement, Nongkhlaw voluntarily agreed to become subject to the Company and under the protection of the English. Secondly, the Syiem agreed to give a free passage for troops through his country to go and come between Assam and Sylhet. Thirdly, the Syiem agreed to furnish materials for the construction of a road through his territories, receiving payment for the sum and after its completion to adopt such measures as might be necessary to help it in repair. This was the third occasion on which Europeans had entered the hill territory of the Khasi tribes.

1828-35 Lord William Bentinck Governor General.

1828  At Cherrapunji Mr. Scott built for himself a house on the plateau, which was acquired from the Siem by exchange for land in the plains, as the site of a sanitarium. In March lower Assam was formally annexed. In the same year, the Kachari kingdom was annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse after the king Govinda Chandra was killed.

1829  The peace was suddenly broken by an attack made, on 4 April by the people of Nongkhlaw on the survey party engaged in laying out the road, resulting in the massacre of two British officers and between fifty and sixty natives. This led to a general confederacy of most or the neighbouring chiefs to resist the British.

3 September 1829:  Agreement between the Hon’ble Company and Mishnee, Beer Sing, Shoomer, and Wookushun, Ohdadars of Chela Poonjee and Mayabar Poonjee.

3 September 1829:  Deed of installment with Mishnee, Beer Sing, Shoomer, and Wookushun, Ohdadars of Chela Poonjee and Mayabar Poonjee.

Agreeable to the terms and conditions, a plot of land was selected, which according to David Scott, was the most convenient for the purpose. A written agreement to this effect was therefore executed between David Scott and Dewan Singh, Syiem of Sohra on 12 September 1829.

In the heat of the war, a treaty was concluded between Dewan Singh, Syiem of Sohra and David Scott, on behalf of the East India Company on the 12 September 1829 by which Dewan Singh surrendered Saitsohpen in exchange of Pandua. It became a base of military operations for the British.

10 September 1829: Deed of agreement between the Hon’ble Company and Dewan Singh Raja and Karbareea and others,  Khasias of Cherra Poonjee.

1 October 1829:    Agreement between David Scott, Esq, Agent to the Governor-General, and Ooram, Oeang, Oefan, Obase, and Chunder Roy, inhabitants of Mokoondo Poonjee.

12 October 1829:   Recognizance between David Scott, Esq, Agent to the Governor-General, and Woolar Singh, Raja of Murreah.

17 October 1829:   Agreement with Zubber Singh, Raja of Ramrye.

Towards the close of 1829, a young Scotsman, James Rae, who had served for some years in the Company’s Artillery, was sent (by the Serampore Mission?) to Gowhati. From this station it was expected that he would be able to reach the Khasis and neighbouring tribes.

Brahmo Samaj founded.

1829  In 1829, Jones(?) recommended Pandua at the foot of Khasi Hills as an excellent site for an iron industry for the manufacture of bar, bolt and hoop iron.

1829-30 Talk of transfer of certain lands in the plains of Sylhet (near Pandua/Mouzah Burryaile) to the Syiem of Sohra in exchange for the lands at Sohra ceded by him to the government for the purpose of a sanitorium. On 12 September, a treaty was concluded between Dewan Singh, the Syiem of Sohra and David Scott, on behalf of the East India Company, by which Dewan Singh surrendered Saitsohpen in exchange for Pandua. It became the base of military operations for the British.

1830  Potatoes were first introduced into the country by Mr. David Scott, the Governor General’s Agent.

Bor Manick of Shyllong was trapped, imprisoned though later released and forced to sign a treaty with the English. The English managed to bring a split among the “Bakhraws” of Shyllong State which finally bifurcated the Shyllong State into Khyrim and Mylliem.

15 January 1830:   Agreement between David Scott, Esq, Agent to the Governer-General, and Burro Manika, Raja of Khyrim.

In a letter from David Scott to Ram Singh (13 April 1830) the English considered it improper for Ram Singh to establish a chokey at Chapper Mookh to levy a toll on passing boats because the southern side of the river formed the boundary of Sutnga, the northern side of the river, the boundary of the British.

On 19 October 1830, another written Agreement was executed between T.C. Robertson, Agent to the Governor General and Sobha Singh, Syiem of Sohra by which the Syiem of Sohra promised to give more lands to the English.

19 October 1830:   Deed of Agreement between the Hon’ble East India Company and Shoova Singh Raja and Beshaye Sirdar and others,  Khasias, residents of Cherra Poonjee.

In his first report, James Rae stated that he had under his charge 12 interesting youths, including 3 Khasis – committed to his care by Mr. David Scot.

James Rae resigned later that year.

A detachment of troops arrived at Cherrapunjee Station early in October 1830.

1831  Four British subjects residing in the Plains were seized by Chattar Sing, the Rajah of Goba, one of the petty chieftains of Jaintia. The four were carried to the temple at Goba and sacrificed to Kali.

Rambrai heavily assaulted the 3 Doars in the plains and this attack has been taken to be “the most serious that had taken place since the catastrophe at Nongkhlaw in 1829”. Rambrai was then invaded by British troops, a heavy fine was imposed and an agreement was forced to be signed.

         At the beginning of the 19^th century robbery and murder were common on the northern frontier, but the Khasis were soon pacified after the annexation of the Assam Valley, and the last outbreak took place in 1831.

        David Scott, Agent to the Governor General of the North-Eastern Frontier of Bengal and Commissioner of Revenue and Circuit in the district of Assam, North-Eastern part of Rungpur, Sherpur and Sylhet, died on 20 August, aged 45 years and 3 months[9].

         Ensign Brodie was brought in, ill of a fever, on 20 April 1831, and died on the 23 April 1831 in Nongkhlao.       

1832 18 year old Anglo-Indian Alexander Lish was sent by William Carey of the Serampore Mission to commence missionary operations in Cherrapunjee (soon after the Government recently established a Sanatorium).

Two British subjects were passing along the high road in Assam when they were suddenly seized, carried up into the hills in the neighbourhood of Goba, and after having been decked with new clothes and jewels, they were led to be sacrificed, together with two other persons, also subjects of this government. One of the individuals first named succeeded in making his escape and on his return to the plains he gave information of what had occurred, and, as his statement was corroborated by many collateral circumstances, there is no reason whatever to doubt the truth of what he said. The crime was perpetrated; it is to be feared as, regards the other three individuals, as they have never since heard of...

The information about the existence of large deposits of coal at Cherrapunjee came to light in the year of 1832.

21 November 1832:  Recognizance between the Agent to the Governor-General, and Wookushun Raja and Wooanluka Raja, residents of Mullai Poonjee, having appeared before Mr. H. Inglis on the banks of the river Jadukata.

11 December 1832:  Agreement between the Agent to the Governor-General, and Okar, inhabitant and Raja of Bhaul Poonjee, having presented himself before Captain Townshend at Cherra Poonjee.

In 1832 Captain Jenkins was deputed by Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General, to report upon the resources of Assam, and the tea plant was specially brought to his notice by Mr. Bruce.

1833   Teerut Singh, having received assurance that his life would be spared, surrendered on 13 January and was imprisoned for life in Dacca. The meeting was held at Nursingaree, about one mile east of Umshillong (the place was most probably Rangkyndur, a spot very near to the Umshillong stream just below Shillong Peak). A long and harassing war came to a close. Cherrapunji then became the headquarters of the Sylhet Light Infantry, whose Commandant was placed in political charge of the district, including the former dominions in the hills of the Raja of Jaintia.

9 February 1833: Kabuliat between The Hon’ble East India Company and Wookwing Longdoo, inhabitant of Nongklang, appertaining to Rambrai.

Towards the end of 1833, Lish visited Calcutta and was ordained. A service was held on Boxing Day, the interest was enhanced by the fact that several Khasis, who had come down with Mr. Lish to see the wonders of the great city, were present on this occasion, when the first missionary was set apart to preach the Gospel to their tribe.

The monopoly of the East India Company of the tea trade with China had ceased[10]. No advantage was taken of the discovery until after the monopoly of the East India Company of the tea trade with China had ceased in 1833.

1834  Mr. Lish returned to the Hills in January, taking with him a native preacher, Jan, to work principally among the Bengali in the neighbourhood. Mr. Joshua Rowe accompanied him to establish an English Boarding School at Cherrapoonjee.

Three schools were established by Mr. Lish – one at Cherrapoonjee, Mawsmai and Mawmluh. Mr. Lish commented that “the only religion understood by them consisted in endeavouring to appease the demons with sacrifices of goats, fowls, sheep and pigs.”

28 March 1834: Chand Manika, entered into an agreement on behalf of Burro Manik, Raja of Mooleem Poonjee, to the effect that a fine of Rs. 5,000 imposed upon his maternal uncle, Burro Manick, not having been paid up to that day, he would now be the Raja of Mooleem Poonjee, agree to pay Rs. 1,000 out of the above sum to Captain Townshend at Cherra Poonjee within ten days and that with the remaining Rs. 4,000 he would construct a durable road from Mooleem Poonjee to Cherra Poonjee, leading to Myrung, fit for the easy passage of horses, those places which, are bad and unfit for the road being repaired and levelled by the Company's people. If the Company approves of the road, a receipt for Rs. 4,000 will be granted.

29 March 1834:    The Hon'ble Company, through Francis Jenkins, Esq., Agent to the Governor-General, had appointed, Runjun Singh, inhabitant of Nuckna, as Raja of the territories of the former Raja Tirut Singh.

In 1834 Lord WilIiam Bentinck recorded a minute, stating that his attention had been called to the subject previous to his having left England, and he appointed a committee to prosecute inquiries, and to promote the cultivation tea.

1835 21 January 1835:   Agreement between the Agent to the Governor-General and Oan Sirdar, resident of Sajur Poonjee, Okenglung, resident of Nung Kunja Poonjee. Oman Sirdar, resident of Soondhuree, and Oenoya Sirdar, resident of Omasem, having attended before Captain Lister, the Commanding Officer.                                             

22 January 1835:   Recognizance between the Agent to the Governor-General, and Oan Sirdar, resident of Sajur Poonjee, Okenglung, resident of Nung Kunja Poonjee; Oman Sirdar, resident of Soondhuree, and Oman Sirdar, resident of Omaghun, appertaining to Ramrye.

On 11 February, The Governor General in Council appointed Captain Lister as the Political Agent. The station at Sohra being the only place at that time, over which the Agent exercised sole jurisdiction. However, he was in charge of relations with the Jaintia Raja.

On 15 March, after two years of fruitless negotiations, Captain Lister, commanding the Sylhet Light Infantry Battalion, in the company of Mr. H. Inglis (his son-in-law), then having the local rank in the same corps, proceeded to Jaintiapur[11].  The Raja of Jaintia voluntarily relinquished his dominion on the confiscation of his territory in the plains. It was alleged that the Raja failed to stop human sacrifices. British gained control of the Jaintia Hills.

At this time, Captain R. B. Pamberton wrote about the Khasis and Jaintias “they descended into the plains both of Assam and Sylhet, and ravaged with fire and sword the villages which stretched along the base of this lofty region. Night was the time almost invariably chosen for these murderous assaults, when neither sex nor age were spared”.

In 1836, the Head Quarters of the 8th Gurkha Rifles (1st Battalion) / Regiment were moved to Cherrapoonjee where they remained till 1867[12].

43^rd Bengal Native Infantry (Goorkha Light Infantry – late 43^rd Assam Light Infantry. Raised 13 April 1835) – Linked  with 42^nd and 44^th Regiments[13]. With Burmah Expeditionary Force, Depot at Shillong. Uniform, Dark Green, Facings, Black.

Tirot Sing died on 17 July.

In 1835 the first tea garden was opened at Lakhimpur.

English the Court language.

1836-42 Lord Auckland.

1836   Teerut Singh dies in jail in Dacca.

1836 Tea is successfully manufactured in Upper Assam which leads to a tea industry.

1837  Of the natives during his 1837 visit, botanist William Griffith had ‘little to say’:  “They are a stout-built, squat, big-legged hill tribe: the women in regard to shape being exactly like their mates; and as these are decidedly ugly—somewhat tartarish-looking people, very dirty, and chew pawn to profusion—they can scarcely be said to form a worthy portion of the gentler sex”.

           

1838   Upper Assam was formally annexed into the British empire. This is attributed to the successful manufacture of tea.

In 1838 the first twelve chests of tea from Assam were received in England.

The work in the Khasi Hills, started by Alexander Lish, is abandoned. Alexander Lish stayed in Cherrapunjee for 6 years learning the language, opening a number of schools and retranslating the New Testament again using Bengali script.

William Carey had significant links in Liverpool in Wales. The treasurer of Serampore group Samuel Hope and the Secretary of the Welsh Mission Rev. John ‘Minimus’ Roberts lived very close by at Liverpool, perhaps provoking the interest of the Welsh Mission in Khasi Hills.

1839   With the annexation of the Maran/Matak territory in the east, the annexation of Assam was complete. In the same year the Assam Company was founded.

9 February 1839:   Kabuliat between the Hon’ble Company and Oan Sirdar, resident of Sajur Poonjee, Ramrye.

9 February 1839:   Kabuliat with Ooma Sirdar, inhabitant of Khuidas Beel Poonjee, Ramrye.

13 February 1839: Agreement between the Political Agent to the Governor-General, and Songaph Raja, resident of Mohuram hills.

               

With the fall of Nongkhlaw and with the annexation of the Jayantia Parganas in 1835, the British, thought that all encounters must have been quelled, but the scene of the struggle could still be seen. Sngap Singh of Maram continued  the struggle for four years more, till he was forced to surrender in 1839.

Mercantile associations for the planting and manufacture of tea in Assam began to be formed in 1839.

As prospects were limited and there were better facilities for raising large amounts of capital in London, Bengal Tea Association of Calcutta was persuaded to amalgamate with the Assam Company of London in 1839.

1840  Thomas Jones and his wife arrive at Cherrapunjee heading the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Mission. This saw the beginning of a remarkable interaction with the Khasis. They set about the work of educating the Khasis and translating the scriptures.

               

Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Jones leave Liverpool on 25 November on the ship “Jamaica”.

The Sirdars of Byrung Poonjee also signed another perpetual lease of Agreement to the coal fields of Byrung Poonjee on 20 April 1840 which was later confirmed by Sobha Singh, Syiem of Sohra.

20 April 1840:    Perpetual lease agreement between the Political Agent at Cherra Poonjee and Raja Shoova Singh, of Cherra Poonjee.

Coal was worked on for the first time in 1840 by Captain Lister, the Political Agent of the East India Company.

1841   Mr. And Mrs. (Anne) Thomas Jones arrive in Calcutta on 23 April (almost 5 months from the date of departure).

After staying a few weeks in Calcutta, on 22 June they arrive in Cherrapunjee. They traveled down the Hoogly river, the Sunderbans, up the river networks to Surma river and fresh water jheels (inland water bodies) to the foothills below Cherrapunjee. Then they had to climb up the mountains on foot or had to be carried in ‘Khoh Kit Briew’ – a Khasi special purpose basket fpr carrying people – up 4,500 feet.

1842-44 Lord Ellenborough.

1842  Mr. Jones prepares a “First Khasi Reader” and a translation of the “Mother’s Gift”. These two books are printed in Calcutta, and were the beginning of Khasi literature.

The first Mission school was built in Mawsmai, a small village, 2 miles from Cherrapunjee.

At the close of the rainy season, accompanied by Leutenants Lewin and Yule, visited the Jaintia Hills, to ascertain the prospects of opening school in their midst.

On 16 July, the Reverand and Mrs. William Lewis sailed from Liverpool.

1843  The Chinese staff that was imported earlier for the cultivation of tea left Assam. Tea plantations came to be tended by local labor solely, mainly by those belonging to the Bodo-Kachari ethnic groups.

         Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Jones are joined by 3 new workers, the Reverand and Mrs. William Lewis (2 January in Cherrapunjee) and Dr. Owen Richards and his 6 year old son, Owen Charles.

        The Mission houses at this time stood in the military station, about two miles from Cherra village. For the convenience of work, permission was sought from the Rajah to build new premises on Nongsawlia Hill, lying mid-way between the military station and the Cherra village; and here two new Mission houses and a schoolroom were erected.

          Abolition of slavery.

1844-48 Lord Hardingue.

1844   In March, Dr. Richards was recalled and his connection with the Mission dissolved. The Rev. Dr Owen Richards was recalled after allegations of improprieties with Lucy Marsh, the niece of local resident Lieutenant William Lewin.

1845   On 12 August, Mrs. Jones gave birth to a son. Ten days later she passed away from weakness and fever.

      The “Cordellia” with Reverend and Mrs. Daniel Jones on board, sets sail from Liverpool on 13 September.

1846  Reverend and Mrs. Daniel Jones arrive in Calcutta on 24 January.

Thomas Jones was in Calcutta at the time, and the three reach Cherrapunjee on 23 February.

On Sunday, 8 March, the first baptism takes place under the Mission.

On 5 November, a party comprising Mr. And Mrs. Jones, Thomas Jones, Lieutenant Lewin, and 2/3 friends set out for the interior in search of a suitable site for a school – the village of Jowai is chosen. They return on 13 November.

On 2 December, Daniel Jones dies of ‘jungle fever’, contracted while passing through marshy districts on the homeward journey. He was 33 years old.

An hour later, Mrs. Daniel Jones delivers a premature baby girl. She returns to Liverpool on the “Cordelia”.

Two days later, Lieutenant Lewin died of the same fever as had proved fatal to Mr. Daniel Jones.

In I846 Government made over its experimental establishment to the Assam Tea Company.

1847 Thomas Jones’ connection with the mission terminated. Thomas Jones himself was expelled by the mission board in 1847 followed his remarriage to a fifteen-year-old Englishwoman, a liaison made much against the wishes of his co-religionists[14].

1848  On Sunday, 16 July Ka Nabon was the first Khasi female to be baptised.

         On 30 September, Reverend William Pryse and his wife sail from Liverpool.

1848-56 Lord Dalhousie.

1849  On 1 March, Reverend William Pryse and his wife arrive in the Hills.

On 16 September, Thomas Jones dies of maisma. Immediately before this his connection with the Mission was dissolved due to him engaging in an injudicious marriage and entering upon a course of proceedings of a commercial character.

The Government of India sold the remaining third of its experimental garden to a Chinese employee.

Golam Hyder Mollah and Kasimuddin Mollah began their journey from the village of Janai in Hoogly district of Bengal, travelled over water route through Goalando (now in Bangladesh) and reached Chhatak. From there, the duo trekked their way to Sohra around 1849.

The Assam Company acquired two-thirds of the Government’s experimental gardens. In 1849, the Government of India had sold the remaining third of its experimental garden to a Chinese employee.

1850   In the middle of the year, Mr. Pryce and his wife removed to Sylhet to establish a Missionary Station, leaving Mr. And Mrs. Lewis once more alone in the Hills.

Mr. Inglis, the (Assistant?) Political Agent in Cherra, undertook to bear the expense of a school himself, in Shella.

Mr. H. Inglis resigned in 1850, and Lieutenant Cave, the present incumbent, was appointed[15].

On 16 September, Thomas Jones dies in Calcutta.

1851  The Society completes its first decade of labour in the Khasi Hills. During this time, 5 Missionaries were sent to the field. One died, the connection of two others were dissolved, and Mr. Pryse removed to Sylhet.

1852  Alexander Lish dies, aged 38 years.    

       

        21 November 1852:  Recognizance between the Agent to the Governor-General and Ramsing Raja and the son-in-law of Senjoo Ranee and Uran Bhasan, residents of Mooleem Poonjee, having appeared before Mr. H. Inglis on the bank of the river Jadookata.

1853   Rangoon and southern Burma were incorporated into British India. (1852 : Second Burman War: Rangoon and Pegu annexed.)

A church is established in Cherra. Schools were at this time opened in two new villages – Nongkroh and Nongwar. A school is also opened in Mawnai, in the Khadsawphra district.

Mr. A.J.M. Mills, Officiating Judge at the Sudder Court (Calcutta) visited the Hills, to report upon questions of administration.

Dalhousie’s Railway minute. First railway opened. Telegraph from Calcutta to Agra.

1854  The first grant made by the Government of India, led by Lord Dalhousie (Governor General of India) towards education through the agency of riligious organisations.

Three new schools were opened on the Military Station in Cherra, Jowai, and Sohbar.

Two pupils from Nongsawlia were selected as clerks in the East India Company’s Court – the first among Khasis to receive such appointments. Another was appointed as the Postmaster in Cherra.

On the retirement of Colonel Lister (to Europe on sick certificate), the charge of the hills was re-transferred to the Commissioner of Assam and the Assistant Commissioner. The civil functions of the Political Agent of the Khasi Hills were seperated from the command of the Sylhet Light Infantry and vested on the Assistant Commissioner on the same footing as the Principal Assistant in the province of Assam.

It was in 1854, an order from Fort William was given that the command over the Military and Civil administration should "no longer come under the jurisdiction of the Political Agent." "Military," therefore, assumed a new department away from the "Civil" Administration. Probably it might be because of this that the Cossyah Hills Political Agency ended and in its place, there was the "Cossyah and Jynteah Hills District".

C.K. Hudson was appointed as the first Principal Assistant Commissioner of the Cossyah and Jynteah Hills District.

J.B. Shadwell was appointed the second Principal Assistant Commissioner (when?).

One of the most prominent citizens of Shillong was Amjad Ali, a scholar, poet and philanthropist. His father, Nawabzada Arjad Ali, came to Shillong in 1854.

In 1854 gardens were opened in Darrang and Kamrup.

Malnicherra tea estate (Bangladesh) established in 1854.

1855   The tea plant was discovered growing wild in Cachar. Sylhet also entered the market but a considerable time elapsed before an attempt was made at cultivation there.

A Police Thannah was established at Jowai.

Mr. And Mrs. Robert Parry sailed for India on 15 December.

1856  Mr. And Mrs. Robert Parry arrive in Cherra on 24 May. Mr. Thomas Jones sails from Liverpool on 27 October.

On the advice of Captain Verner, the Government Agent for Cachar, a school was opened in Silchar with Thompson Rozario in charge.

1857   Mr. Thomas Jones joins Mr. Pryse in Sylhet in March.

Three companies of mutineers came within 20 miles of Sylhet. Their evident design was to attack first the Europeans in Sylhet Station, and afterwards proceed to the Hills, by way of Jaintiapore. Major Byng, who commanded the troops at Cherra (300 of the native soldiers stationed at Cherra were Hindus), hastened to meet the rebels, and inflicted a crushing defeat, at the cost of his own life.  

A school is opened in Jaintiapore, 30 miles from Sylhet town.

Rev. Thomas Jones arrives.

W.J. Allen was deputed by the Government to Khasi and Jaintia Hills to prepare a report on the administration of these hills.

1858   Central Indian labor was imported for the tea plantations.

A second school was opened in the Jaintia Hills at Lymin.

Babu Jeebon Ray joined the service of the East India Company.

India under the Crown : Queen’s proclamation.

Following the abolition of Company rule and the absorption of India into the British Empire according to the Proclamation of Queen Victoria made at the Allahabad Durbar on 1 November 1858, the Khasi and Jaintia Hills also became a part of the British Empire.

1859 On 19 September, Reverend James Roberts, and his wife sailed for India.

Mr. Robert Parry and Mr. Thomas Jones exchanged stations. The former left the Hills to join Mr. Pryse in Sylhet and the latter joined Mr. Lewis in Cherra.

Thomas Jones removed to the Hills.

On the recommendation of W.J. Allen, as per his report of 1858, it was decided to require the execution of an Agreement by each ruler on his succession and in return to confer a ‘Sanad’ on him.

From this year, the relation between the Khasi States and the English was regulated through ‘Sanads’ and ‘Parwanas’, which were Appointment Letters under the seal and hand of the British Government confirming the election or selection or appointment of any Khasi ruler.

Agreement entered into with the government by the late Rajah of Lungree, Soonder Sing, on the 22nd September 1859.

Oo Sep Sing, Rajah of Maram, on the 22nd September 1859, ceded, in consideration of receiving half the profits all his mineral rights (except those connected with the Mahram tracts leased to the late Mr. Henry Inglis).

1860  Reverend James Roberts and his wife arrived in Cherra in March.

On 16 December Mr. And Mrs. Lewis left their much loved Hills, after 18 years, quietly during the night, never to return again.

A light house tax was imposed in the Jaintia Hills. A member of the Cherra Church, was appointed collector of the new tax. Portions of the country immediately rose in rebellion but were supressed and disarmed. Towards the end of the year new taxation was introduced.

Investigations were conducted by the Board of Revenue and the Military Department and in 1860, the authorities mooted the idea of shifting the district headquarters of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills to Shillong.

1861  The Rajah of Jaintia, Ram Sing, dies in Sylhet.

U Larsing becomes the first Khasi to visit England and Wales.

Mrs. Robert Parry dies in Sylhet on 19 July.

James Robers recalled.

After further investigation made by a Committee, survey of topography by F.A. Rowlatt, and a detailed report of the Deputy Commissioner, on 29 October 1861 the Fort William authorities decided to shift the district offices only to Shillong.

The designation Principal Assistant Commissioner was changed to Deputy Commissioner. Major E.A. Rowlatt was the third Principal Assistant Commissioner of the Cossyah and Jynteah Hills.

On 19 March, Melay Singh, Rajah of Moolem (Syiem of Mylliem) enters into an Agreement with the British Government for the latter’s right to establishing civil and military Sanatoria, and cantonments within the country. For this purpose Lieutenant Colonel J.C. Haughton, Agent to the Governor General, North east Frontier had selected land. This Agreement was the precursor for the future capital of the British in the hills.

1862-63  Lord Elgin.

1862  On 3 February, Mr. James Roberts and his wife sailed from Calcutta by the ship “Sedgemoor”. No further news was heard of the ship or passengers, and was concluded having foundered with all on board.

The Syntengs were seriously disaffected and in January, a serious outbreak occurred. One company numbering about 300, came within 7 miles of Cherra, intending to march upon the European settlement. During the night a sudden rush was made upon Theria Ghat village, at the foot of the Hills, were a number of Bengalis were slain, their skulls being carried away on the point of their spears in triumph.

Mr. Robert Parry sends notice to retire from service. Appointed professor at Krishnagur, and later at Calcutta, became Principal of Dacca Government College.

Eastern Bengal Tea Co. Ltd. was incorporated in the U.K. on 16 June 1862. It was wound up on 21 December 1866.

          22 July 1862:   Agreement entered into by Dun Singh, Rajah of Nusteng, (son of Oola Beang Koonwur) with the Deputy Commissioner of Cherra Poonjee, in the Cossyah Hills.

1862-3   From 1862-1863 there was war with the Jaintias and since then a British officer was posted in the Jaintia Hills.

1863  Dun Sing,  (son of Oola Beang Koonwur) was elected the successor of Moot Sing, the Rajah of Nusteng, and he was recognized by the British Government and received the title of Rajah Bahadoor on 26 January 1863 on his signing an engagement of allegiance and fidelity.

The British area of Shillong had no Sirdar but under the direct control of the British, as per the Agreement of 1863, between the British and the Syiem of Mylliem.

8 December 1863, agreement signed in Yoedoh by Rabon Sing, Rajah of Khyrim.

10 December 1863, agreement signed in Shillong by Melay Sing, Rajah of Moleem and Lormiet Montang.

18 December 1863, the same agreement was signed by J.C.Haughton, Officiating Governor General’s Agent, North East Frontier.

In March, Mr. Pryse returns to Sylhet, leaving his family behind. Mr. Robert Parry retires to Calcutta.

Indian Tea Co. (Cachar) was incorporated in the U.K on 5 May 1863.

On 24 August, U Larsing dies in the residence of Mr. Edward Peters, Ty Cerrig, Caergwrle, and was buried in Chester cemetery.

In December, a High School was opened in Silchar.

1863-64 The acquisition of the whole area for Shillong was finalised by Lt. Col. J. C. Haughton in 1863-64 costing the British Government a sum of Rs.8,433 and on an annual payment of  Rs. 108 to the persons who had not received cash payment for their lands.

1863-65 In the Tea Industry, there was a thoughtless rush for waste lands. The boom reached its peak only in the third quarter of 1863.

1864-69 Sir J. Lawrence.

1864 25 January 1864, Engagement executed by the Chief of Lungree, Oomit Sing, signed in Cherra Punjee and witnesses by J.B.Shadwell, Assistant Commisioner in charge.

On 7 June 1864, a Sunnud was signed by John Lawrence, conferring the title of “Rajah” upon Oomit sing, the Chief of Lungree.

5 October 1864: There was an engagement executed in Youdoe by Oo Sai Sing, the Rajah of Mahram.

5 December 1864: Sunnud confirming the election of Oo Sai Sing to be the Rajah of Mahram.

The headquarters of the district were moved from Cherrapunji to Shillong and the latter was made the new civil station. It remained the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam for many years.

From 1864 onwards progress had been made towards transferring the public offices (civil) of the Cossyah and Jynteah Hills "from Cherra to Yedeo". There were however some impediments as to the transfer of the Sudder Civil Station of the Cossyah and Jynteah Hills from Cherra Punji (Sohra) to Yeudeo (Iewduh) because of the delay in completing the building to the 'Kutchery' or the Deputy Commissioner's office. Simultaneously, the Government had sanctioned for the construction of other suitable buildings at Iewduh.

In June Mr. Jones wrote that he had visited “a village of the name of Shillong, to help the Deputy Commissioner to settle the dispute between the Cherra Rajah and a number of his villages, which had been in an unsettled state for years.”

1865  On 8 November, Hugh Roberts and Mrs. Hugh Roberts sailed from Liverpool. So did Griffith Hughes and Daniel Morton Sykes.

Cachar Co. Ltd. was incorporated in the U.K. on 11 September 1865. It was wound up on 1 July 1867.

1866  In August, a permanent station is established in Jowai under the charge of Mr. Daniel Sykes.

           A church is established in Shangpoong in the Jaintia Hills.

      In March Rev. and Mrs. Hugh Roberts arrived in Sylhet. Laboured for a short while on the Plains, and afterwards on the Hills. From 1878 to 1880 he laboured as a missionary in Brittany.

        The Deputy Commissioner's office was constructed in 1866 and Shillong became the District Headquarter of Khasi and Jaintia Hills District. Only after the construction of residential and official buildings, actual shifting started in 1866.

With the shifting of the offices from Cherrapunji, Yeodo was renamed Shillong after the sacred peak by Col. Henry Hopkinson on 28 April 1866.

According to Datta Ray, "Shillong was born in the twilight of 28 April 1866", as a small settlement covering an area of 2 square miles with a population which was around a thousand (the Census figure of 1871 shows the number as 1363).

The name “Shillong” was finally adopted by the Government of Bengal on 28 June 1866.

           The tea industry collapsed in May 1866.

           Eastern Bengal Tea Co. Ltd. was incorporated in the U.K. on 16 June 1862. It was wound up on 21 December 1866.

1867   Two printing presses were set up in Cherra.

In July, Mr. William Pryce’s connection with the Mission was dissolved. He remained and entered into business relations with a lime quarrying company.

In March, Mr. Hugh Roberts was moved to Cherra to superintend the Normal Institution.

The first Tonga or Pony Cart service in Shillong, side by side with Bullock Carts, was started on 6 November 1867 by Golam Hyder and Sons.

Cachar Co. Ltd. was incorporated in the U.K. on 11 September 1865. It was wound up on 1 July 1867.

In 1836, the Head Quarters of the 8th Gurkha Rifles (1st Battalion) / Regiment were moved to Cherrapoonjee where they remained till 1867.

1868  The first grant of land for tea garden was made in Cachar. Reckless speculation in the promotion of tea companies led to severe depression, which reached its crisis, when the industry was placed upon a firmer basis.    

A church is opened in the village of Mawdem, in the extreme north of the Hills, on the borders of Assam Valley.

The first Tonga or Pony Cart service was recognized by the Government of Assam Division through an agreement on 11 July 1868.

1869-72 Lord Mayo.

1869  In January, severe shocks were felt in Silchar and Sylhet. The earthquake seriously damaged many buildings in Silchar, and cut up the roads and wrecked bridges throughout the District.

Mr. Daniel Sykes was recalled, in consequence of a regrettable misunderstanding which had arisen between him and his fellow missionaries and the native Christians under his charge.

On 2 August, Mr. William Pryce dies and was buried in Sylhet, he was 49 years old.

On 27 October, Mr. Thomas Jerman Jones and his wife sail for Calcutta.

About 1869, matters began to amend, and during the last thirty years there has been a great development of the tea industry.

1870   Thomas Jones returns to India.

           Daniel Morton Sykes’ services terminated.

On 7 March/10 April, Mr. Thomas Jerman Jones and his wife arrived in Jowai. Mr. Thomas Jones returned to the Mission field in December, taking over the charge of the Normal School at Nongsawlia from Mr. Hugh Roberts, who removed to Sylhet.

Mr. Hugh Roberts is released from charge of the Normal School and sent to the Plains.

1871  In western Sylhet, a sudden rise of the rivers wrought such utter desolation that, in spite of the efforts of Government, nearly one third of the population died of famine.

On 28 September Reverend John Roberts and his wife sailed for India.

Two new stations were opened in the Khasia Hills towards the end of the year in Shella and Shillong.      The former being in charge of Reverend John Roberts.

Mr. Griffith Hughes removed to Shillong, 30 miles to the north of Cherra.

1872-76 Lord Northbrook.

1872  Owing to a painful misunderstanding between him and his fellow missionaries and the Directors, the connection of Mr. Thomas Jones with the Mission was severed.

Mrs. Griffith Hughes dies.

The preparatory work for the artificial lake in Shillong was initiated by Col. Hopkinson, the Commissioner of Assam in 1872.

1873   Griffith Hughes returns to the field.

            Mrs. Thomas Jerman Jones dies on 14 April.

1874  The Assam Province was separated from Bengal Presidency, Sylhet (along with Cachar, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Naga and Garo Hills) was added to it and its status was upgraded to a Chief Commissioner's Province. The people of Sylhet protested the inclusion in Assam. Assamese, which was replaced by Bengali as the official language in 1837, was reinstated alongside Bengali. Shillong remained the permanent seat of the Assam Government. It was chosen as the headquarters of the new administration because of its convenient location between the Brahmaputra and Surma Valley and more so because the climate of Shillong was much cooler than tropical India.

On 6 February 1874, the Governor General by two Notifications declared Assam as Chief Commissioner's Province and declared it to be a Scheduled District. Shillong also became the “Capital” of the Assam Province (Chief Commissioner's Province) from 20 March 1874.

Colonel R.H. Keatinge (Chief Commissioner of Assam). Col. R.H. Keatinge assumed his office on 7 February 1874 and after a few days (40 days of stay at Gauhati), the Assam Secretariat was shifted from Gauhati to Shillong, the new capital of the province of Assam on 20 March 1874.

               

The two printing presses that were set up in Cherra are sold to the Government.

Early in the year, while on a visit to Sylhet, Thomas Jones was seized with an attack of cholera to which he succumbed.

The work on the Plains was abandoned, Mr. Hugh Roberts removing from Sylhet to Cherra to superintend the Normal School. Mrs. Griffith Hughes and Mrs. Jerman Jones passed away.

Thomas Jones’ connection with Society dissolved. Died in Sylhet on 9 July.

Lord Northbrook, Governor-General of India visited the field.

Mawkhar Chapel is built in Shillong[16]. The first Welsh Mission minister to the people of Shillong, Griffith Huges built a chapel in 1874 at Mawkhar on the site where presently stands a market.

The foundation stone of the Anglican church in Mawkhar was laid by H.E. Lord Northbrook, Viceroy of India on 22 August 1874.

1875  An earthquake did some damage to houses in Gauhati and Shillong.

In Cachar an experiment was tried of planting bushes on well drained marsh land, and it was found that under these conditions, the plant gave a large yield, though the tea was of inferior quality.

The confirming authority mentioned in Clause I was the "Lieutenant Governor." In 1875 and 1877 the words, "The Chief Commissioner of Assam" or "the Government of India" were substituted.

On 15th April 1875, Colonel Bivar observed that the grant of Sanads signed by the Viceroy of India was a distinction which should be limited to the three States of Sohra, Khyrim and Nongstoin but the other Syiems should receive from the Local Government.

One of the most prominent citizens of Shillong was Amjad Ali, a scholar, poet and philanthropist. His father, Nawabzada Arjad Ali, came to Shillong in 1854. In 1875 he built a residential house near Sylheti Para in Laban.

1876-80 Lord Lytton.

1876  Reverend John Jones and his wife sailed for India on 28 January came to the Hills. Mr. And Mrs. Hugh Roberts returned to Wales, where a few months later, Mrs. Roberts passed away.

The first Welsh Mission minister to the people of Shillong, Griffith Huges built a chapel in 1874 at Mawkhar on the site where presently stands a market. The Anglicans first used their church on the same site where their Cathedral stands on 11 June 1876.

               

The Queen Empress of India.

Shillong India Club established in 1876.

1877  The cart road was made in 1877 on the third approachable bridle path via Nongpoh.

1878    In March, Mr. Hugh Roberts was sent to Brittany.

Mr. John Roberts took charge of Cherra District and Normal School, being succeeded in Shella by Mr. John Jones. The Shillong District was superintended by Mr. Jerman Jones, and the work in Jaintia by Mr. Griffith Hughes.

Reverend Robert Evans (sailed on 19 October) and Dr. Griffiths and their wives arrived.

The Khyndiar portion of Nongkrem (7 miles to the south of Shillong) rose in rebellion against the Siem. As the result of British intervention, Khyndiar was placed in the charge of 4 native sirdars and the country became open to missionary operations.

There was the consitution of a municipality in Shillong, the town Committee was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner. It was desired by the suburbs of Mawkhar and Laban that they should be included within the Municipality but these suburbs were beyond the line of British boundary and there had been consequently a difficulty in the application of the Act within them.

On 26 November 1878, a station was constituted at Shillong covering the ceded areas, Jail Road, Police Bazar and European ward and the non-ceded suburbs, Laban and Mawkhar, under the Act of 1876.

Till 1878 Sanads were signed by the Chief  Commissioner. Later, they were signed by the Commissioner of the Surma Valley and the Hill Division. The Parwanas were, however, signed by the Deputy Commissioner.

Establishment of a High School in Mawkhar area of Shillong on 2 September 1878 in the name of Shillong Zilla High School (later to be named as Shillong Government High School).

1879   In June, there was an outbreak of cholera in Shillong.

Work in the Plains resumed. In November, in company with Mr. Griffith Hughes, Mr. Jerman Jones visietd Sylhet. A handsome building is erected to safeguard the interests of the Mission.

1880-84 Lord Ripon.

1880    A volunteer corps was started in Sylhet.

There were 7 principal stations compared to 2 ten years ago : Nongsawlia, Jowai, Shella, Shillong, Mawphlang, Nongrymai (Khadsawphra) and Shangpoong.

Khadsawphra District was superintended by Mr. Griffith Hughes, who was followed at Jowai by Mr. John Jones.

Celeus Leon Stephens sailed for the Mission field on 3 October.

In December Reverend C.L. Stephens and his wife arrived and was given charge of Shella District.

1881  Mr. Thomas Lewis, who later became an MP, was the first person from Wales to visit the Mission field.

Mr. John Jones, brother of Mrs. Jerman Jones, also visited.

European and Eurasian Girls Boarding and Day School was started on 1 March 1881 at Shillong.

1882   In October, severe shocks were felt in Silchar and Sylhet.

       Mr. Robert Parry removed to Patna College, where he remained until his return to England in 1890.

1883   A volunteer corps was started in Cachar.

On 20 December, John Thomas sails for India.

1884-88 Lord Dufferin.

1884   J. Herbert Roberts and J. Herbert Lewis (both MPs later) and H. Rees Davies visited the field.

Reverend John Thomas and his wife arrived and were stationed at Nongrymai. Mr. Griffith Hughes removed to Cherra in Mr. John Robert’s absence.

A school opened in Wahiajer (“village of thieves”).

Mission High School was started in 1884 with the help of Rev. Jerman Jones. Today, this school is known as Khasi and Jaintia Presbyterian School.

1885-86 Third Burman War : Upper Burma annexed.

1885   Reverend John Thomas returned in February to Wales.

           John Thomas returns home due to ill health.

        Attention had frequently been directed in recent years to the importance of making suitable provision for the Bengalis and others in Shillong who were able to understand English. An effort to supply the need was made as far back as 1885 by Mr. Jerman Jones, who arranged to conduct occassional services for their benefit.

           Chief Commissioner of Assam - Sir William Ward 1885      

1886  The British incorporate Burma into the British Raj. All of Burma came directly or indirectly under British India after the Third Burmese War and the fall of Mandalay. Burma was administered as a province of British India.

          Mr. Griffith Jones returned to Wales and relinquished service after 20 years.

1887  An important public work was carried out in Shillong. The water of the hill streams was distributed in pipes over the station.

On 14 January Mrs. John Jones passed away leaving her husband and 6 kids.

8 new Missionaries sailed for India in September: Reverend J. Cerdig Evans and Mrs. Evans (Cherra), Reverend J. Pengwern Jones and Mrs. Jones (Sylhet), Dr. and Mrs. Arthur D. Hughes (Jaintia Medical Mission in Jowai), Reverend William Williams (Shella, sailed on 28 September) and Ms. Sarah Anne John (Sylhet).

Mrs. Reverend J. Pengwern Jones passes away in their Station in Sylhet after 6 days of arrival.

Mr. Stephens removing to Khadsawphra.

Guwahati-Shillong road was levelled carefully in 1887 and metalled bridges were constructed across some of the streams that intersected these hill paths. The journey performed by pony tongas took between 8-9 hours.

Shillong Welsh Presbyterian Girls School was established.

1888-94 Lord Landsdowne.       

1889  Oil was discovered at Digboi in Assam giving rise to an oil industry.

Chief Commissioner of Assam - Mr. J.W. Quinton 1889.

In April Ms. Sarah John removed to the Hills and the following year returned to Wales.

On 12 October, Elizabeth Williams sailed for India. Stationed in Sylhet.

1890  The principal works carried out by the PWD prior to 1890 were the metalled road from Gauhati to Shillong and from Shillong to Cherrapunji, 97 miles; road from Sylhet to Cachar, 67 miles; Companyganj-Therriaghat State Railway, 8 miles. It was wrecked by the earthquake of 1897, and since has been abandoned.

The principal works constructed since 1890 have been the Companyganj-Salutikar road, a section 9 miles long of the line of communication between Sylhet and Shillong.

On 1 January, Ms. Elizabeth Williams began her labours in the Plains.

In January, the first of the Irish Christian Brothers arrived in Kolkata.

On 4 March, Mr. Jerman Jones left Shillong for Calcutta and with his wife took passage homewards by the “Clan Matheson”.

Monday, 14 April, Jerman Jones passes away on the ship.

A number of Roman Catholics priests and nuns established themselves on the Hills. In later years the action of the Oxford Mission had caused considerable anxiety and pain. The Roman Catholics enter the Khasi Hills. The dawn of the Catholic faith in these hills came in 1890 with the German Fathers in another name for the Salvatorians.

Mr. Robert Parry returns to England.

European and Eurasian Girls Boarding and Day School was closed down due to the earthquake. It was opened again on 6 August 1890 in the name of Shillong Government School for European and Eurasian children.

1891 The principal railway of Assam is the Assam Bengal Railway, which runs from the port of Chittagong to Silchar at the eastern end of the Surma Valley. A second branch of the same line runs along the south of the Assam Valley from Gauhati to Tinsukia, and is connected with the Surma Valley branch by a line that pierces the North Cachar Hills, the points of junction being Lumding, in the northern and Badarpur in the southern valley. Work was begun on this railway in 1891.

Chief Commissioner of Assam - Sir William Ward 1885 and 1891.

On 6 May, Mr. Lewis passes away, nearing his 77^th Birthday. To him belongs the distinction of having given the Khasis the complete New Testament in their own tongue.

The Normal School was removed from Cherra to Shillong.

The translation of the Bible was completed.

Owing to a serious accident to his wife, while being carried in a toppah at the top of a steep precipice, Dr. Arthur D. Hughes returned home in spring.

In October Rev. Thomas John Jones sailed from Liverpool.

In November Mr. And Mrs. William Morgan Jenkins (Shangpoong) sailed for India, along with Reverend Thomas John Jones Sylhet).

On 13 December Mrs. Ceredig Evans passes away in Shillong.

On 17 December Rev. Thomas John Jones arrived in Sylhet.

1892  Rev. Robert Jones and his wife (Shillong) and Ms. Bessie Williams (Girls’ section of the Normal School) arrived after sailing on 4 March.

On 22 April, Mr. William Williams passes away in Mawphlang, after 4 years of service.

On 15 December Ms. Elizabeth Anne Roberts and Ms. Laura Evans arrived in Sylhet after sailing for India on 2 November.

The eldest of the two daughters of Gour Babu (Shoshie and Shushila Dass) came over to England at the parent’s expense to receive medical training.

School in Rampoor Tea Estate, 8 miles outside Silchar.

1893  Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Edward Williams sailed on 25 September and arrived in the Jaintia Medical Mission. Rev. and Mrs. Edward Hugh Williams took oversight of Shella District.

In March, Dr. Jones removed to Silchar, and was followed to the new station a few weeks later by Ms. Elizabeth Williams and Ms. Laura Evans.

1893-94 Sir Ward had made the artificial lake in Shillong more beautiful by giving it a much more natural look, which was completed during 1893-94.

1894-99 Lord Elgin II.

1894  In September Ms. Shoshie Mukhy Dass returned to the field as a lady missionary. In the same steamer was another worker Ms. Katherine Ellen Williams.

On 6 November Rev. Dr. Oswald Williams and his wife sailed for India and arrived as medical missionaries to the Plains.

Thomas John Jones married Ms. Bessie Williams (Shillong).

Ms. Shoshie Mukhy Dass removed to Karimganj.

Jeebon Roy retired from the service of the East India Company as Extra Assistant Commissioner on 20 November 1894 and helped the British Government to streamline the British administration in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

1895   Ms. Annie Williams took charge of the Normal Girl’s school in succession to Ms. Bessie Williams who married Dr. Thomas John Jones (Silchar).

1895   On 23 November, Mrs. Lewis passes away, in her 80^th year.

On 10 October, Ms. Annie Willaims sails for India.

Laban Bengali Girls High School was established.

1896   Chief Commissioner of Assam - Mr. Henry Cotton.

Accordingly the Syiem of Mylliem agreed and Lachhumiere was annexed to the Shillong Station in 1896.

1897  The great earthquake of 12 June 1897 destroyed much of Shillong and its surrounding areas, necessitating its complete rebuilding. The earthquake not only destroyed every permanent building, but also broke up roads and caused many lanslides. The loss of life was put at only 916, but hundreds died subsequently of a malignant fever.

On 31 August, Ms. Annie Williams passes away in Shillong after contracting cholera from three children.

On 22 October Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Willoughby Reece sail for India. In December Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Willoughby Reece (Sylhet) and Ms. Annie Wozencraft Thomas (in charge of Girls’ section of Normal and High Schools, Shillong) arrive.

On 26 June David Evan Jones sailed for India, arriving in Aijal, Lushai Hills on 31 August.

Cantonments are provided for a battalion of Gurkhas with 2 guns. Shillong is the headquarters of Assam Brigade of the 8^th Division of the Northern Army.

1898 The completion of the railway from Badarpur to Silchar, reduced the travel time from Silchar to Calcutta - to 33 hours.

In the face of large scale Christian proselitization, especially the Welsh Calvinistic Mission, following the establishment of colonial administration in the Hills, a few Khasi leaders formed an association called Seng Khasi which declared this ‘identity’ for the Khasis. Sixteen Khasi non-Christian men met on 23 November, ironically, in the Brahmo Samaj Hall at Mawkhar in Shillong.

To Babu Dohori and U Solomon belong the distinction of being the first among the Khasis to become graduates of Calcutta University. The former taking his degree in B.A. with Honours in English.

Rev. John Gerlan Williams sail for India in October, as did Edwin Rowlands. Towards the end of the year, Rev. John Gerlan Williams and his wife joined the work in the Plains.

The Shillong Golf Club was started in 1898 by a group of British Civil Service Officers.

1899-05 Lord Curzon.

1899  The Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Willoughby Reece removed to Maulavi Bazaar, the principal town of South Sylhet sub-division, and lying 35 miles southwards of Sylhet town. The population then in Maulavi Bazar was about 2,500.

On 17 November Ms. Ellen Hughes sailed for India, commenced work in Silchar.

On 23 November 16 Khasi non-Christian men met in the Brahmo Samaj Hall at Mawkhar in Shillong to form Seng Khasi[17]. 23 November, known as the 'Seng Kut Snem' is celebrated every year and declared a State gazetted holiday.

Mawkhar Bengali Middle English School was established.

1900 School for European and Eurasean children in Shillong opened with Ms. Ellen Hughes (formerly in Silchar) appointed by the Government as Head Mistress.

Elizabeth Williams returns to the field.

1901 Dr. Williams moves from Karimganj to Laitlyngkot to superintend the Khasia Medical Mission. Mr. Gerlan Williams took charge in Karimganj.

Owen Evans sailed for India on 25 October.

Swami Vivekananda visited Shillong and stayed there for about 18 days in April-May in Laban.

1901-10 In the decade 1901-10, Kench's Trace and Laitumkhrah was placed under Shillong Station Committee.

1902   Dr. Griffith Griffiths returns to the field.

1903 The hill section of the Assam Bengal Railway presented difficulties of an exceptional character, and was not finally completed till the end of 1903.

Ms. Elizabeth Mary Lloyd was appointed to work in Sylhet.

At the end of the year, Dr. Thomas John Jones (Silchar) tenders resignation, after 10 years of service.

Celeus Leon Stephens resigns due to failing health, and his connection with the Mission is terminated.

Reverend Robert Evans takes charge of Mairang (Khadsawphra District).

David Evan Jones married Ms. Katherine Ellen Williams. (Sylhet).

Delhi Durbar.

1903-04  The volunteer corps started in Sylhet in 1880 and in Cachar in 1883 were subsequently amalgamated into the Surma Valley Light Horse, and had an efficient strength of 270.

Mrs. Owen Evans passes away after 3 years of service.

1904   Mr. Robert Davies and Mrs. Davies (not related) aided in the opening of a handsome new chapel in Shillong, in which English services were regularly held. The site of the chapel was presented to the Mission by the Chief Commissioner.

Field visits by Revs. W.S. Jones and Maurice Griffiths.

Dr. Griffith Griffiths returns home due to ill health.

In connection with the Durbar held in Delhi, on the occasion of the Proclamation of His Majesty King Edward VII as Emperor of India, the King of Khadsawphra (Nongkhlaw?), U Kinesing, was invited and honoured with the title of Rajah.

The Kaiser-i-Hind Medal for distinguished service in India was presented to Rev. Robert Jones.

There were 11 churches in the Plains, including those in the Tea Gardens and among Khasi settlements in Borkhola and Kalain.

John Jones superintendent of Wahiajer District, Jaintia Hills.

Reverend J. Cerdig Evans in charge of Mawlai District, and Head Master of Normal and High Schools, Shillong.

On 3 September, Mrs. Owen Evans died at Laitkynsew.

1905-10 Lord Minto II.

1905   Partition of Bengal.

        On 1 October 1905, Dacca becomes the new capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam, and Shillong declines in importance[18]. It is still the summer capital/residence of the government and the headquarters of the district.

         Peasants from East Bengal began settling down in the riverine tracts (char) of the Brahmaputra valley encouraged by the colonial government to increase agricultural production.

        Set in 9 acres of forest, Tripura Castle is built in Shillong by Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Deb Burman of Tripura[19].

          The pony cart service remained up to 1905.

      The village Heneng Umkhrah was brought into the municipality of Shillong Station in 1905.

        The Laban Dispensary, the first of its kind, was opened in 1905.

1906 Bengal was partitioned and East Bengal was added to the Assam Chief Commissioner's Province. The new region, now ruled by a Lt. Governor, had its capital at Dhaka.

The first automobile transport - the first fleet of motor cars, branded Albion was inaugurated in 1906 by Golam Hyder & Sons.

1907   A motor service was introduced in the year 1907.

1909  The Roman Catholics establish Loreto Convent in Shillong on 8 May 1909.

1910 The Shillong Municipal boundary was extended in 1910 to include Laitumkhrah, Hopkinson Estate, Malki, Mawprem and the areas between Laban and Laitkor forests.

On 15 November 1910, the station of Shilong was upgraded to a Municipal Board under the Bengal Act III of 1884 covering the area bounded by Laitumkhrah, Malki, Laban, Mawkhar and Umkhra river.

1910-16 Lord Hardingue II.

1911   The unpopular Partition of Bengal was finally annulled by an imperial decree, announced by the King-Emperor at the Delhi Durbar.

The Tonga or Pony Cart service and the Bullock Cart service ended in 1911.

In 1911, the Albion motor service contract was taken over by the Planters Stores (of tea garden).

On 2 January 1911, the Government of India conferred on Amjad Ali the honorary title of Khan Sahib, the first in Shillong.

1912 With the annulment of the partition of Bengal, the administrative unit was reverted to a Chief Commissioner's Province (Assam plus Sylhet). Shillong becomes the capital once again (after a gap of 7 years from 1905) on 7 April 1912.

1912-18  Sir Charles Earle, Chief Commissioner of Assam.

1912-20 The tenure of the Assam Legislative Council was from 1912 to 1920, when it was a Chief Commissioner's province for the second time.

1913  The Roman Catholics establish St. Mary’s School in Shillong. The Roman Catholics built the Church of the Divine Saviour, a wooden structure.

The Khasi Hills Welsh Mission Hospital at Shillong was founded by Dr Hugh Gordon Roberts who qualified as a doctor (having worked as a chartered accountant previously) in Liverpool in 1912.

In 1913, when the Government wanted to enforce the Bengal Municipal Act 1884 in Shillong within the boundary of the State of Mylliem, the Government had to issue Notification and to this effect, through the operation of the Indian (Foreign Jurisdiction) Order in Council 1902.

Tagore is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

1915 The Christian Brothers were invited to Shillong and St.Edmund’s College was begun the following year.

         On 4 November, the foundation stone of the King Edward VII Memorial Pasteur Institute and Medical Research Institute, Shillong was laid. The buildings were completed in 1916.

In recognition of the pioneering contributions by Golam Hyder Mollah and Kasimuddin Mollah (father and son)to the building up of economic infra-structure in Shillong, Kasimuddin Mollah was conferred the title of Khan Bahadur by the Governor General of India, Lord Hardinge on 3 June 1915.

1916-21  Lord Chelmsford.

1918    The Opera Hall is established in 1918 in Thana Road.

1918-21 Sir Nicholas Bell, Chief Commissioner of Assam.

1919 Tagore visits Shillong for the first time and stayed at Brookside Compound, a house in the Rilbong area[20].

Montagu Chelmsford Report, the Government of India Act was passed. The Report made a specific recommendation that the typically backward tracts should be excluded from the scope of the Reformed Council.

1920  Shillong Urban Constituency was the only consituency of the Hill areas in the Assam Legislative Council. The experiment of nominating a hillman to the council was tried and a Garo by the name of Jangin Sangma Lasker was nominated but failed.

1921   Assam became a Governor's province in 1921.

Rev. J.J.M.Nichols Roy was elected as an independent candidate from the Shillong Constituency defeating Sivnath Dutta.

On 12 February, the first meeting of the Assam Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber of the Government House, Shillong. There were no parties, and the ministers were chosen by the Governor to represent communities and localities.

Chamber of Princes was accepted and inaugurated on 8 February 1921.

The first meeting of the Legislative Council was in the Council Chamber of the, Government House, Shillong on 12 February 1921.

        The Dyarchy of the Assam Legislative Council from 1921 to 1937.  

The Albion motor service contract was taken over now by the Commercial Carrying Company in 1921 which continued till independence.

1922 Welsh Mission Hospital, Shillong, was opened in 1922 (founded in 1913).

1921-26  Lord Reading.

1923 The Roman Catholics establish Don Bosco School in Shillong.

          Tagore visits Shillong for a second time and stayed for over a month at Jeet Bhumi, a little away from Brookside Compound. It was during this visit that he penned his famous drama Yakshapuri (later published as Raktakarabi) and poen Shillong-er-chithi.

        Amjad Ali was the first citizen of Shillong to be honoured with the title of Khan Bahadur on 9 April 1923.

1924  From this year, the Hill areas were represented by a Welsh Missionary.

1926   In the second General Election, Rev. Nichols Roy was again elected by an overwhelming majority over Sibnath Dutta and Kongor Macdonald Basaiawmoit.

1926-31  Lord Irwin.

1927  Tagore visited Shillong for the third and last time and was lodged at Upland Road, Laitumkhrah.

1927-28 Around 1927-28 Rilbong and Kench's Trace areas, earlier ear maked, as reserve area for Military purposes were allotted to civilian Government servants for construction of residences.

1928  Rev. Nichols Roy won the third general election in October for a member of the Assam Legislative Council from the Shillong Urban Constituency, defeating Macdonald Khongor and Rai Bahadur Nagendranath Choudhury, a Zamindar from Shillong.

A fourth general election was held soon after in November and remained in power for 6 years. Nichols Roy was dropped from the Ministry in favour of Abdul Hamid from the Surma Valley.

Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla was knighted in 1928.

1929 Orders were issued by Government for holding a general election in May 1929 of a member for the Assam Legislative Council from the Shillong Urban Constituency. Nomination papers were filed by Nichols Roy, Macdonald Kongor and Rai Bahadur Nagendra Nath Choudhury (a zamindar from Sylhet). The election was held on the 3 October 1929 and was keenly contested by the three gentlemen. Nichols Roy secured the majority of votes and was declared elected on 4 October 1929.

The Fourth General Election held in November 1929 remained in power for a long term of six years.

In 1929, there were eleven Municipal wards in Shillong, three in the so called British area and eight in the Non- British Syiemship area.

1931   In 1931, Laban Ward of Shillong Municipality was split into Laban and Lumparing-cum-Madan Laban.

1931-36  Lord Willingdon.

1933   On 3 October, Lord Wellington visited Shillong.

In 1933, Kench's Trace was excluded from the Shillong Municipality.

1934  The Khasi states had formed a federation with the objective of acting as an intermediary body between the states and the Government of India[21].

1935   Under the operation of the Govt. of India Act,1935, the areas of North Eastern India were classified into 4 areas – Excluded Areas, Partially Excluded Areas, the Frontier Areas and the Khasi States which were 25 in number and in Subsidiary Alliance with the British.

In 1935, when the Government of India Act was passed, Notifications were issued in the name of the "Crown Representative" but only through the operation of the Indian (Foreign Jurisdiction) Order in Council 1937. Such Notification was issued to include Kench' Trace and Rilbong within the "Shillong (Administered Areas) Municipality.

1936  The earlier 1913 building of the Roman Catholic Church of the Divine Saviour was a wooden structure. It was destroyed in the Good Friday fire of April 10, 1936.

               

In 1936, the names of the "Constituencies" of the Assam Province are given as follows:

1. Shillong Constituency which includes 'British Areas' of the Shillong Sub-Division. This Constituency also includes "Mylliem State Portion."

2. Jowai Constituency which includes Jowai Sub-Division, Block I and Block Il which are now under 'Mikir       Hills' were part of Jowai Sub-division.

3.  Women's (Shillong) Constituency which includes women voters and women candidates. The Women's (Shillong) Constituency mentioned in Part III of the said Schedule is a Constituency specially formed…"

1936-43 Lord Linlithgow.

1937   Burma became a separate, self-governing colony.

The Dyarchy of the Assam Legislative Council from 1921 to 1937. Implementation of Provincial Autonomy under the Government of India Act 1937.

Kench’ Trace and Rilbong were included in the Shillong Minicipality.

Rev. Nichols Roy was again elected defeating Ajra Singh Khongphai and Kongor Macdonald.

The first meeting of the Legislative Assembly was on 7 April at the legislative Assembly Chamber, Shillong.

The office of the Premiere was recognised in Assam. The first Sadullah Ministry came into existence on 1 April and consisted of two members each from Assam and Surma Valley and one from the hill areas (Rev. Nichols Roy).

1938  On 5 February, the second Sadullah Ministry was formed and was soon voted out of office.

On 19 September the first Bordoloi Ministry was formed.

1939  On 17 November the Bordoloi Ministry resigned and the third Sadullah Ministry was formed.

1940  On 25 December, the third Sadullah Ministry was voted out, bringing the province under Governor’s rule.

1941   In 1941 the Welsh Mission transferred the direction of all its work to the Presbyterian Church in North East India.

In 1933, Kench's Trace was excluded from the Shillong Municipality and in 1941 was again included.

1942    On 25 September, the fourth Sadullah Ministry was formed.

1943-47  Lord Wavell.

1945  The fourth Sadullah Ministry resigned on 23 March but again came into power on 24 March.

     The Khasi Hills Welsh Mission Hospital at Shillong was founded by Dr Hugh Gordon Roberts. He retired in 1945.

1946  The general election which should have been held in 1942 could not be conducted because of the Second World War and could only be held in 1946. On 11 September the second Bordoloi Ministry was sworn in. Nichols Roy held the Shillong Seat defeating Ajra Singh Khonghpai and Kongor Macdonald.

The Consituent Assembly which first met on 9 December was responsible for framing the Constitution of India.

On the eve of Indian independence in 1947, tribal leaders began a campaign for the separation of the hill tracts from Hindu-dominated Assam and for the creation of a new tribal state in the region[22].  

1947 Following a referendum, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision which was incorporated into the new Indian state of Assam.

The Khasi states had formed a federation with the objective of acting as an intermediary body between the states and the Government of India. After India’s attainment of Independence the chiefs of the states agreed to their accession to the Indian Union.

On November 15 the new Roman Catholic Cathedral Church in Shillong was completed.

The Albion motor service contract was taken over now by the Commercial Carrying Company in 1921 continued till independence.

The Bivar Estate at Lachaumiere acquired by the Nawab of Dacca, Salimullah early in the last century but was taken over by the Government in 1947.

1949 The Khasi Hills Welsh Mission Hospital at Shillong was founded by Dr Hugh Gordon Roberts. He retired in 1945 but was asked to go back in 1949 to set up a smaller hospital in Jowai, Assam, which he did.

1950 In 1950, Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla, as a leader of the community in Assam, joined the Indian National Congress.

1950s Conflict and violence between the Hindu Assamese and the tribal peoples increased during the 1950s. Leaders of the tribes formed the Assam Hill Tribal Union to press for separation from Assam.

1952  The District Council of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills was formed and this superceded the authority of the hereditary chiefs. The Council consisted of 24 members elected on the basis of adult franchise.

In the hill areas of Assam, the district and the regional councils were constituted in 1952 and 1953, respectively.

First election to the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1952 in free India.

1955  Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla passed away in 1955.

1960 Following the introduction of Assamese as the official language, the tribal leaders formed a coalition of nationalists and cultural groups, the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), and demanded the self government and unification of the non-Indian regions of South Western Assam.

1963  In late that year thousands of tribal kinsmen, fleeing Pakistani troops, crossed the Indian border and were allowed to stay. The Indian government, aware of the propaganda possibilities, announced that the mostly Christian tribesmen preferred secular India to Muslim Pakistan.

1969  Hoping that autonomy would preempt the increasing calls for armed rebellion in the region, the Indian government issued a decree that created within Assam an autonomous state called Meghalaya.

In 1941 the Welsh Mission had transferred the direction of all its work to the Presbyterian Church in North East India. The last Welsh missionary left in 1969.

1970  Shillong remained the Capital of Assam till 1970. In that year Meghalaya was created as a State within a State and the city became a twin Capital.

1971  Sylhet became part of the newly formed independent country of Bangladesh.

In the month of March and beginning of April there was an influx of refugees from East Pakistan into Meghalaya.

The Government of Meghalaya passed the Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971 which brought settled non-tribals at par with other floating non-tribals.

1972  Shillong remained the capital of undivided Assam until the creation of the new state of Meghalaya on January 21 when Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya and Assam moved its capital to Dispur. The North East Frontier Agency’s (NEFA) headquarters were in Shillong until that region became the union territory of Arunachal Pradesh also in 1972.

         The refugees started leaving for Bangladesh by January 1972.

1974  The new state government in Meghalaya demanded greater autonomous power and also restrictions on immigration of lowland peoples.

On 26 January 1974, Assam Government was shifted to Dispur and Shillong became the sole Capital of Meghalaya.

---

[1] Political maps and cultural boundaries, David Ludden, July 2003.

[2] Land and people of Indian states and union territories.18. Meghalaya, Gopal K Bhargava, Shankarlal C Bhatt.

[3] The Oxford History of India.

[4] Political maps and cultural boundaries, David Ludden, July 2003.

[5] The Khasis under British Rule, Helen Giri, pg. 36.

[6] www.cherrapunjee.com

[7] Hart’s Annual Army List, Militia List, and Imperial Yeomanry List.

[8] Hart’s Annual Army List, Militia List, and Imperial Yeomanry List.

[9] Report on the Coseah and Jynteah Hills, 1853.

[10] The boom in the tea industry.

[11] The Khasis under British Rule, Helen Giri, pg. 46.

[12] Alban Wilson Major, History of the 8th Gurkha Rifles (First Batallion) translated by School master Ganapati Jaisi 1926.

[13] Hart’s Annual Army List, Militia List, and Imperial Yeomanry List.

[14] Sex and Salvation, Andrew Brown-May.

[15] A.J.M. Mills’ Report on the Coseah and Jynteah Hills.

[16] Mountains of the God, K.S.Gulia.

[17] Khasi and Jaintia Folklore by Soumen Sen.

[18] http://encylopedia.jrank.org/SHA_SIV/SHILLONG.html

[19] Encyclopedia of North-east India, Vol#4, Col. Ved Prakash.

[20] http://rkmshillong.org

[21] Tribal Populations and Cultures of the Indian Subcontinent, Christopher von Furer-Haimendorf.

[22] Encycopedia of the Stateless Nations:S-Z, James Minahan.