12 Facts About Silverine Swer

Silverine Swer, popularly known as Kong Sil, was an Indian social and environmental activist, educationist and civil servant.

Silverine Swer was the first person of tribal origin to hold senior posts with the Government of Meghalaya, and was a recipient of the Silver Elephant Medal of the Bharat Scouts and Guides Award and Kaisar-i-Hind Medal.

Silverine Swer was born on 12 November 1910 in a Khasi Christian family in Shillong, the capital of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya.

In 1944, Swer was selected as the Assistant Controller of Rationing under the British Indian government.

Silverine Swer held the post until 1949 when she resigned from government service to take up the job of a teacher at Pine Mount School, Shillong.

Silverine Swer stayed at the school for three years until she had a chance meeting with N K Rustomji, then Adviser to the Governor of Assam on NEFA, who persuaded her to take up the post of the Chief Social Education Officer of the North East Frontier Agency with office at Pasighat.

Silverine Swer stayed with NEFA from 1952 to 1968 and returned to Shillong that year for a two-year stint at her native place where she was involved with the activities of the Good Will Movement of the Moral Re-Armament.

Silverine Swer was among the Indian delegates who visited Sweden in 1970 in connection with MRA activities.

Silverine Swer, who remained a spinster throughout her life, died on 1 February 2014, aged 103, at her residence in Riatsamthiah in Shillong.

Silverine Swer's mortal remains were buried at Mawkhar Presbyterian Church Cemetery in the high range city.

Silverine Swer received the Silver Elephant Medal of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in 1976.

Silverine Swer was a recipient of the Patogan Sangma Award for social service and RG Buruah Smriti Rakhya Samiti Award.