Ferdinand Rani
MAIRANG:
The Federation of Khasi States, comprising 25 Himas, will be visiting Dhaka in Bangladesh to chronicle the last days of Khasi legendary warrior U Tirot Sing Syiem and to collect soil from the place where he had spent while in jail.
“We will visit Dhaka after Independence Day (August 15) to bring back a part of U Tirot Sing home to our Hima in Nongkhlaw. We will collect the soil from the place where he was jailed as a mark of remembering and honouring his sacrifice for the greater good of the Jaidbynriew,” said the Syiem Khynnah (Deputy Chieftain) of Hima Nongkhlaw, K.M Syiemlieh.
According to some Khasi scholars, Tirot Sing, one of the chiefs of the Khasi people in the early 19th century, was arrested after being fooled by the British on the pretext of post-conflict settlement. He was captured by the British in January 1833 and deported to Dhaka. He died on July 17, 1835.
Contrary to the general narrative, some scholars claimed that Tirot Sing had surrendered and was later imprisoned in Dhaka jail as a common prisoner before being declared a state prisoner – which means he was provided all the facilities befitting a native ruler under house arrest.
In search for the truth and to chronicle the last days of the legendary chief, leaders of the federation are confident of gathering some information and visiting the place where Tirot Sing spent his last days.
The decision to visit Dhaka was announced by the federation on July 17 to commemorate Tirot Sing’s 188th death anniversary at Madan Mot Tirot Sing in Mairang, Eastern West Khasi Hills.
“To call for good luck and to remember our hero who sacrificed his life for the Jaidbynriew, we feel this is a positive move and a good gesture,” the Syiem Khynnah added.
In his message to the political leaders of the state, Syiemlieh called for unity among leaders of the state and said, “This is time for our leaders to be unified, to fight against so many ills in society, especially in governance.”