The Princely State of Nongspung was one of the former princely states of India which existed during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. The region comprised of a total population of 5,541 in the year 1941. The princely state of Nongspung was incorporated as a part of the states of Khasi kingdom in Meghalaya, which was situated in northeastern India, south of Bhutan, which was under the rule of the British Province of Assam. The territory of Nongspung lied towards the western region of the Eastern Khasi States.
The erstwhile princely state was bounded by the princely state of Nongspung in the north; by the territory of Sohiong in the northeast; by the princely state of Mawphlang in the southeast; by the princely state of Nonglwai and Pamsanngut in the south; and by the princely state of Mawrang in the west. The Princely State of Nongspung was incorporated as a part of the States of Assam Agency.
History of Princely State of Nongspung
The princely state of Nongspung, like other States in the Khasi Kingdom, was established when villages merged together for mutual protection against the adjacent territories. The native ruler held the title of Syiem. Khasi syiemships appeared as the requirement to centralize administration which led to the several lyngdohs and basins to submit local authority in exchange for general protection. Authority emerged from small local states to a confederation. The Syiem acted as the secular head of state in Khasi states. There were 2 major branches of the ruling family of the Syiem, namely the Mawdem and the Mawnai. During the 19th century, members of both the families were elected rulers and asserted the right to alternate in the rulership among the 2 branches. Around 15 Black Syiems succeeded as the native ruler of the territory before the arrival of the British East India Company in the state.
The native ruler or Syiem of Nongspung was succeeded by his eldest brother, failing which, by the ruler`s eldest nephews, grand nephews, or cousins, in no particular order, but at all times in the female line. As a result of the failing male heirs, the native ruler was succeeded by the eldest of the previous ruler`s sisters, nieces, female first cousins, grand nieces and distant female cousins, in that order and always in the female line. A female syiem was succeeded by her eldest son, nephew and so on, in the stated order.
This system provided total claim to succession, as the heirs could not been disqualified from the succession by the Electoral College which was comprised of 5 lyngdohs
Accession of Princely State of Nongspung
After the Partition of India and the departure of the British Government of India in the year 1947, the state was acceded to the newly independent Union of India, which also known as the Dominion of India, by the Syiem of Nobosohphoh state. At present the territory is located in Meghalaya.
