From Our Correspondent
TURA: Remembering the 500 Garo men who went to France to help the allied forces during the first World War and their return a year later, a special commemorative ceremony to honour the brave men was held at Tura Babupara on the 93rd anniversary of the Garo Labor Corps Day on Saturday.
GHADC CEM Purno K Sangma as chief guest at the programme lamented the lack of awareness about the significance of the event. He said mere declaration of holiday to commemorate the day is not sufficient and children, government employees, students must have greater participation of the celebration because it was a momentous event 93 years ago when Garos from all corners of the region unitedly offered their services to the call of duty.
Sangma also announced that the district council would set aside a sum of Rs 2 lakh annually for the celebration of the Labor Corps Day. He also offered to take over the celebration from the coming year onwards.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal while addressing the gathering said the brave men fought for a cause which was service to their motherland. “This call is also upon us today as we face challenges to take our country forward,” said Goyal.
On the 13th of August 1917, 500 Garo men left their families to head to France to help the allied forces during the war by bringing in much needed supplies to the frontline and construction of trenches and other forms of cover for the men who were fighting to stop the German advance.
Out of the 500 men who left home only 456 landed in the port of Marseilles, France, the others having passed away during the long and tiresome sea journey. After a year of hardship in which the men tirelessly worked during the cold winter months of Europe to ensure smooth supply of necessary war items to the battlefront, they were given permission to return home.
On the 16th of July, 1918 as many as 120 of the men arrived in Tura while others got down at Gauhati (now Guwahati) to head for their homes. The return was a mixed reaction of joy and sadness. While some cried with joy on seeing their family members safe return others wept to hear the sad news of those who were left behind in France having died while serving the “nation”.
The then British Government constructed a cenotaph with the names of those who died inscribed in it as memory of the fallen heroes.
This year’s programme was chaired by Tura Municipal Board Chairman Kulert C Momin and the board CEO T G Momin proposed the vote of thanks.
There were some uncomfortable moments during the programme as vehicles streamed past repeatedly even as the guests were speaking on the dias. The cenotaph being along the main busy road to the Tura market and the day being the weekly market day there was little the authorities could do to reduce the disturbances.
A special patriotic song was present by students of St. Xavier’s School and personnel from Meghalaya Police presented an armed salute while sounding the last bugle.