Statehood

Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi inaugurated the full State of Meghalaya on 21st January, 1972 at Polo Ground, Shillong, thus fulfilling the long cherished political aspiration of the Hills People of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills. The State of Meghalaya was thus born with abundant love and goodwill through the historical NorthEastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971.

The word Meghalaya was loosely used for a title of a book to indicate the hilly region in the North East. When the State was being considered for formation, the word was adopted for naming the State, as the areas were proverbially associated with clouds and rain. Meghalaya, which is a Sanskritised word, literally means the Abode of the Clouds. True to its name, for half the year from late April to September, rain-bearing clouds envelop the land. The hilltops are usually covered by dense but beautiful clouds making them almost inseparable and indistinguishable. Clouds form a veritable part of Meghalaya befitting the poetic name of the State. Meghalaya lies between 85° 49'and 92° 52' East Longitude and between 20° 1' & 26° 5' North Latitude. It is bounded on the east, north and northwest by Bangladesh. The area of the State is 22,489Sq.Kms. The provisional population of the State, according to the Census of 2001, is 23,06,069. The capital of the State is Shillong, on of the loveliest all time hill resorts in the east, often known the world over as the Scotland of the East.