By Daiaphira Kharsati
MAIRANG: There is a call for the need to undertake a comprehensive research on the life of Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem, who is the most respected of the Khasi ‘kings’ and was the first to rebel against the British.
Despite being a legendary figure in the history of the state, not much is known about the life and circumstances leading to the death of the legendary Khasi warrior.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on the sidelines of a programme organised here to observe the 181st death anniversary of the freedom fighter, Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, Paiem Phrestar Manik Syiemlieh said, “We want an extensive research done (on Tirot Singh). Stories about him were extracted from British records and are inaccurate.”
“A research conducted by David Syiemlieh, professor, NEHU brought out clarifications regarding the day of his death which was confirmed to be July 17 (1835). Research needs to be done on the treaties, around two-four of them, signed by Tirot Sing Syiem during British times,” he added.
“Back in the olden days the Khasis did not have written records and it was only the British who recorded all the accounts of U Tirot Sing Syiem,” Syiemlieh said adding that researchers should go all the way to England to know more about the departed leader.
The Syiem also lamented that apart from declaring a holiday in memory of the legendary freedom fighter, the State Government has done very little to highlight and preserve the memories and legacy of the warrior king.
“The Assam Government in the late ’50s had constructed a road in his honour and even provincialised the schools in Nongkhlaw during ’50s-’60s,” he informed.
Syiemlieh, however, pointed out that the Hima Nongkhlaw is making efforts to preserve the history imprinted with legendary stories of fight for freedom.
“There are 3-4 caves at Nongkhlaw which we believe were his (Tirot Sing’s) refuge and Krem Tirot was his last refuge from where he valiantly came out and faced the British forces and was subsequently arrested,” he said.
Following the allotment of Rs 15 lakh by the KHADC, the Hima Nongkhlaw has started making arrangements to make the cave a tourist destination and an approach road is being put up at the location.
Syiemlieh also informed that a museum depicting the life of the Khasi patriot will be erected at his ancestral house in Nongkhlaw.
“The museum will be established for his remembrance and some of the artifacts to be displayed include weapons used during warfare and utensils among others. However, the artifacts are scattered all over the Nongkhlaw kingdom and we are collecting them for the museum,” he said.
Syiemlieh concluded that apart from preserving the rich heritage of the 10th Syiem of Hima Khatsawphra, U Tirot Sing Syiem, the people today should remember his famous last words when he faced imprisonment in Dhaka, “Better die an independent king than reign as a vassal.”