Mavis Dunn Lyngdoh (1906-1962) Biography, Family

Quick Info

Profession	Politician
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	04/06/1906
Age	55 years (died on 28, Mar, 1962)
Birthplace	Mairang, Meghalaya
Date of Death	28/03/1962

Latest News about Mavis Dunn Lyngdoh

27/09/2025

Meghalaya Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh urged the state government to formally honor Mavis Dunn Lyngdoh, the first woman Cabinet Minister in the Indian subcontinent, highlighting that Meghalaya has rediscovered her legacy more than 80 years after her historic appointment. In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the Speaker noted that Mavis, born in 1906 and belonging to the matrilineal Khasi community, was appointed Health Minister in the Sir Syed Mohammed Saadulla government in 1939, two years after being elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly as an independent candidate.

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Bio/Wiki

Other name	Kong Mavis
Full name	Mavis Patricia Dunn Mawlong

Educational Qualification(s)

School	Welsh Mission Girls’ High School, Shillong Calcutta Girls’ Free School, Calcutta (now Kolkata) St. Thomas School, Calcutta (now Kolkata)
College/University	Diocesan College, Calcutta Calcutta University
Educational Qualifications	Diploma in Intermediate Course of Arts at Diocesan College (1924) Bachelor of Arts at Diocesan College (1927) Bachelor of Teaching (BT) at Calcutta University (1930) Bachelor of Law at Calcutta University (1933) Matriculation from Calcutta University as a private student (1922)

Personal Life

Religion	Presbyterianism
Ethnicity	Mawlong clan, Khasi tribe
Marital Status	Unmarried

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Unmarried

Family

Father	H Dunn
Mother	Ka Helibon Lyngdoh (Kong Helibon Mawlong)
Siblings	Two sisters

Career

Political Journey	Contested Indian provincial elections from Shillong constituency and won as an independent candidate (1937) Joined Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla’s government as a cabinet minister in Assam (1939) Became the Health minister of Assam (1939) Held portfolios of the Registration, Industries, and Cooperative departments Ended political career after defeat in provincial elections (1946) Appointed as a member of the committee for dialogue with British and Indian governments to establish the Federation of Khasi States (1946) Served in the Assam state government’s Advisory Council post-independence, advising on District Councils (1947) Toured the US and UK, giving lectures at educational institutes before returning to India Elected to the first undivided Assam Legislative Assembly as the first Khasi woman MLA (1937)

Political Journey

Contested Indian provincial elections from Shillong constituency and won as an independent candidate (1937)
Joined Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla’s government as a cabinet minister in Assam (1939)
Became the Health minister of Assam (1939)
Held portfolios of the Registration, Industries, and Cooperative departments
Ended political career after defeat in provincial elections (1946)
Appointed as a member of the committee for dialogue with British and Indian governments to establish the Federation of Khasi States (1946)
Served in the Assam state government’s Advisory Council post-independence, advising on District Councils (1947)
Toured the US and UK, giving lectures at educational institutes before returning to India
Elected to the first undivided Assam Legislative Assembly as the first Khasi woman MLA (1937)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. The very first woman from the Indian subcontinent to hold a cabinet minister position.
2. She is the initial woman from the Khasi tribe to serve as an MLA in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
3. She achieved the distinction of being the primary Khasi tribe woman to drive a car.
4. She is also the inaugural woman from the Khasi tribe to earn a law degree.
5. Oversaw the establishment of the Assam Red Cross Society (ARCS) as Health Minister.
6. Passed a resolution allowing nurses trained in private institutes to work in government hospitals.
7. Became the first woman from the Northeast to attain the post of cabinet minister at the age of 33

Mavis Dunn Lyngdoh Politician Indian Mairang, Meghalaya