Bishop George Mamalassery, who had helped transform a remote and hazardous northeastern Indian region into a modern place, died July 5 due to severe respiratory issues. He was 92. He served the diocese of Tura for 28 years from 1979. The government of Meghalaya had honored Bishop Mamalassery with the Pa Togan Sangma award that was set up in honour of a Garo tribe leader who had fought the British in the late 19th century. The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, conferred him an honorary doctorate in 2019 for his contributions to education, healthcare, and socio-economic development. Mourning the death, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India hailed Bishop Mamalassery as a prelate with “unparalleled commitment” a man of visionary leadership” who helped transform the northeastern Indian region’s socioeconomic and educational landscape. “His compassionate efforts during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the founding of Holy Cross Hospital are testament to his enduring legacy,” the statement added. Bishop Mamalassery was born on April 23, 1932, at Kalathoor in the southern Indian state of Kerala, as the youngest of three children to Kurian and Elizabeth Mamalassery.