D. D. Lapang was a politician who served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya four times. Let’s dive deeper into the life of this veteran politician.
Contents
Biography/Wiki
D. D. Lapang or Dr Donwa Dethwelson Lapang was an Indian Politician who served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He held the office four times in his political career. He was born on 10 April 1934, in Nongjri village, Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya, India. He was 91 years old at the time of his death.
Physical Appearance
He was 5′ 6″ tall and weighed 80 kg. He had black eyes and black hair.
Education & Career
He did his schooling from Shillong Government High School and obtained a degree of Bachelor in Arts from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong. From a very young age, he started working with his mother on her tea stall. He then worked as a road labourer. He did many jobs before becoming a politician. He served as a school teacher for 5 years. He also worked for the Assam Civil Secretariat, then promoted to Lower Division Assistant as a typist. He also worked as a Sub-Inspector of schools for 10 years. He then joined politics in the 1972 contesting in the Legislative Assembly Election from Nongpoh L.A. Constituency and even won as MLA. He then served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya four times. In September 2018, he resigned from the Congress Party and alleged that the Indian National Congress did not treat senior party members nicely.
Political Journey
- 1972: Contested as Independent Candidate in the Legislative Assembly
- Election from Nongpoh L.A. Constituency and won as MLA.
- 1978: Became Minister of State including Cooperation, Jails, Education and Civil Defence.
- 1979: Became Cabinet Minister including Health and Family Welfare, Labour, Information & Public Relations.
- 1988: Deputy Minister of Home.
- 1992-1993: Chief Minister of Meghalaya
- 1993-1995: Chairman State Planning Board
- 1995-1997: Chairman, Commission on Resources Mobilization
- 1998-2003: Served as Deputy Chief Minister
- 2003-2006: Chief Minister of Meghalaya
- 2007-2008: Chief Minister of Meghalaya
- 2009-2010: Chief Minister of Meghalaya
Family & Wife
He was born in a poor family. His father, Donwa War, was a tailor and his mother had a tea stall. His father passed away when he was just 5 years old. After his father’s death, he used to help his mother in her tea stall. He married Amethyst Lynda Jomes Blah, a journalist, in 1958. They have a son and a daughter.
D. D. Lapang with his wife, Amethyst Lapang
Death
On 12 September 2025, Lapang died of age-related ailments at a hospital in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Facts
- He came from a very poor background and it was actually a priest who requested his mother to allow him to take Lapang to a nearby village for his education.
- He used to sell tea in the market of Nongpoh, the constituency from which he was later elected as MLA.
