Sad News . . .

It is with sorrow we announce the death of the General Secretary of the Unitarian Union of North East India, Bah Brington Mylliemngap. News from UUNEI:

WITH PROFOUND GRIEF WE ANNOUNCE THE SUDDEN DEMISE OF "BAH" BRINGTON MYLLIEMNGAP, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE UNITARIAN UNION OF NORTH EAST INDIA. HE DIED IN HOSPITAL THIS MORNING 26 FEB 2008. A DIABETIC PATIENT, HE SUFFERED FROM SERIOUS BRONCHIAL ASTHMA FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AT 72 HE LEFT BEHIND HIS WIFE, THREE CHILDREN AND MANY GRANDCHILDREN, BESIDES A HOST OF FELLOW BELIEVERS, FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS. HIS FUNERAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 28TH. THE UNITARIAN UNION HAS LOST ONE OF ITS MOST SINCERE AND DEDICATED OFFICIALS.

He was born in 1936 and got his BA degree from Guwahati University in 1960.
From a humble beginning in 1961 in the government service he gradually rose to retire in 1995 as the Deputy Secretary of the Community & Rural Development, Government of Meghalaya.

He became active in the activities of the Unitarian Union of North East India since 1980 — holding several key posts in the course of time, such as Secretary of the Advisory Committee, Social Service Committee, HKS Library Committee, etc. He was also on the Finance Committee of the Union, and ultimately became its General Secretary in August 2005, the post he held till his last breath. He will be remembered for his hard work and dedication to the service in the Unitarian Union. His local church at Madan Laban, Shillong, gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award on September 18, 2007 when the Union celebrated its 120th Anniversary, in recognition of his great love and hard work for his faith.

A soft-spoken man with evident integrity was greatly loved by all sections of the community. His voluntary involvement with the Kharang Rural Center, local Sports & Cultural Club and other social groups was remarkable. He was also the President of his Mylliemngap clan."

"Bah Bring," as he was known to many, was a gentle and warm host to those who visited from far away lands. He kindly translated services into English on the spot for visitors, and selected hymns in English so they would feel included. Wanting to honor those who visited from far away, he would happily invite a visitor to 'come up and say a few words' on the spot trusting that that the Unitarian message of God's love transcended all cultural and ethnic boundaries. He indeed lived and breathed this love, tirelessly organizing and inspiring others to works of kindness and righteousness (a key Khasi Unitarian philosophy).

Eva Cameron writes, "Those in the Sponsor-a-Student organization have considered him the "grandfather" of our organization, for his help in the conceptual development of the program from its very first moment. It was born out of a conversation held over tea after a service in the Madan Laban church. I will always remember our conversation, and his eagerness to see these schools succeed."

Any message may kindly be sent to his eldest son, Pearl G. Marbaniang (pg_marbaniang@hotmail.com)