Princely State of Khyrim

Princely State of Khyrim, also known as Nongkrem, was one of the significant princely states in India under the indirect rule of the British East India Company. The state was administered and supervised by the native ruler, also addressed as Indian Prince by the British authorities. The state comprised of a total population of 48,467 in the year 1941. The princely state of Khyrim was included as a part of the states of Khasi kingdom in Meghalaya, located in northeastern India, south of Bhutan, which was entirely bounded and controlled by the British Province of Assam. The region of Khyrim was located towards the southeastern part of the Eastern Khasi States. The territory was bounded by the state of Mylliem in the north; and by the regions of Mawphlang, Nonglwai, Cherra and Mawlong in the west. The region also shared borders with the British Province of Assam in the east and south. The Princely State of Khyrim was under the administrative control of the States of Assam Agency.

History of Princely State of Khyrim
The native ruler of Khyrim state held the title of Syiem. The ruler ship of Shillong was perhaps the earliest of all states in the Khasi kingdom that existed from the beginning of the 15th century. The state eventually developed and expanded by the latter half of the 17th century. But by then a division was formed within the Syiem family and the state Darbar. Eventually, as the conflict increased, a series of secessions started to destroy the kingdom. By the 18th century, two polities, Mylliem and Khyrim co-existed within the territory of Shillong. This division was officially recognized in the year 1859. The Syiem recurrently appointed a Junior Syiem, also known as Syiem Khynnah, who acted as his heir apparent.

Generally, a ruling chief or Syiem was succeeded by the eldest son of the Syiem Sad, who was the custodian of all religious rites and ceremonies; or if they were sons of earlier Syiem Sads, then by the eldest son of the senior of such senior Syiem Sads. The princely state of Khyrim was divided into 6 Rajs, namely Nongkynrih, Nongkrem, Mawlich, Nongbri, Mawshai and Lawai. Each of them was governed by a darbar that consisted of a Lyngdoh, 4 ministers or Mantris, and the elders of the Raj.

Accession of Princely State of Khyrim
The last Syiem of the princely state of Khyrim or Nongkrem acceded the territory to the newly independent Union of India after the political withdrawal of the British Government of India from the country on 15th August 1947. After the nation was divided between India and Pakistan, the native rulers were given the choice of acceding to either the Dominion of India or the Dominion of Pakistan. The Syiem of Khyrim decided to merge with the Republic of India.