Meghalaya politician sends his duplicate to function, gets busted

Body doubles are known for their “bold scenes,” which the real actors shy away from in movies, but C Kharkongor was “caught in the act” after he tried to take the role forward of Umroi  legislator, Stanly Wiss Rymbai at a public function.

Kharkongor, a Xerox copy of the Umroi legislator in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, complete with the trade mark flowing beard and stout stature turned up at a school function, Rolin Modern Secondary School, Nongsder, as the Chief Guest instead of his master, but was caught in the act.

Apparently, Rymbai had no inclination to be part of the function and looked up for help from his humshakal. In turn, a gleeful Kharkongor suited up and tried living as a politician for a brief moment of his life at the function.

Kharkongor’s mistake? He forgot to give a whiff of grey shade to his beard, but nonetheless that went amiss initially. But what went totally against the impersonator was his speech delivery and his overall mannerism.

“It was funny at first, but the humour soon vanished into a sense of shock, despair and betrayal,” School Principal, Molina Lyngdoh said.

She added the school had organised a food fest on December 12 and invited Rymbai to be its chief guest. Rymbai never once refused the invite.

The school principal said she was aghast at the legislator’s insensitivity in the whole affair. “He (Rymbai) is least concerned about the sentiments of the people of his own constituency and this incident is testimony to that,” Lyngdoh said.

In political history, Kings, Queens and present day politicians have had “political decoys” to avoid detractors.  The most recent in present memory is said to be Saddam Hussain’s. In fact, Saddam is said to have had several decoys to avoid his detractors. Hitler, Stalin, Kissinger and many others all had their decoys.

In Kharkongor's case, it was filmy, pure Bollywood style as Rymbai’s excuse of not turning up for the function was in all probability not based on fear perception. Kharkongor on the other hand is a school teacher from a nearby village in Umsning  not like the decoys whose identities are kept top secret.

Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said they never, during the function, questioned Kharkongor although he was totally busted, but instead thanked him for turning up as the Chief Guest. A beaming Kharkongor shook hands smiled and vanished.