George Gilbert Swell

George Gilbert Swell (August 5, 1923 - January 25, 1999) was an Indian politician, a former Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and its member from Shillong in Meghalaya.

Early life

He was born at Laitkynsew village near Cherrapunji in the present-day Meghalaya state. He completed his schooling at the Ramakrishana Mission School at Cherrapunji. After passing the Bachelor of arts examination from the Scottish Church College, Kolkata, he took his Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Calcutta in 1945. He married a Shillong beauty, Lajopthiaw (victorious conqueror) Lyngdoh, second daughter of Phrolibon Lyngdoh and Wellington Kearney. Soon after their first child, Lakyntiew (she who has uplifted us) was born, they moved to Ethiopia, part of a wave of teachers recruited to Ethiopia in the early nineteen fifties. They returned to Shillong after a couple of years, and G. G. Swell threw himself his new position as a professor at a local college. It wasn't long before he entered into the political world of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. His contribution to the formation of the state of Meghalaya, breaking away from the parent state of Assam, is incontrevertible. He, with his wife's uncle, Brington B Lyngdoh, and Stanley Nichols Roy as well as other community leaders conducted a fierce campaign for the separate identity of their state that combined the peoples of Khasi and Janintia Hills and other tribes from the Garo Hills and others. To their credit, the campaign was bloodless, nonviolent and successful. It was not long before GG Swell moved into national politics, having earned recognition for his intellect and passion for leadership, and for his principled and ethical way of life.

Political career

He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Autonomous Districts Lok Sabha constituency in 1962, 1967 and 1971 and from Shillong Lok Sabha constituency in 1984 and 1996. He was the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 9 December 1969 to 27 December 1970 in 4th Lok Sabha ^[1] and again 27 March 1971 to 18 January 1977.^[2]

Swell served as India's ambassador to Norway and Burma.

In 1992 he contested the Indian presidential election as a joint opposition candidate against Shankar Dayal Sharma but lost. He was member of Rajya Sabha from Meghalaya during 1990-1996.^[3]

He died on 25 January 1999.^[4]

References