Khasi warrior fought against British before first freedom war

SHILLONG: Arts and Culture minister Ronnie Lyngdoh on Monday said the struggle of Khasi warrior U Tirot Sing against the British should be considered as first rebellion against the foreign rule and not the first war of Independence, which came much later.
Lyngdoh said during the commemoration programme organised by the Hima Nongkhlaw on the occasion of the 182nd death anniversary of U Tirot Sing at Mairang on Monday, he had told the gathering that with a handful of supporters, the Khasi leader had fought the mighty empire and died in 1835 whereas the first war of Independence was in 1857 in the form of Sepoy Mutiny.
“Though the British offered amnesty, the Khasi warrior did not opt for it as he was a man of conviction. He preferred to die as a King rather than as a slave,” Lyngdoh said.
Sing was the first one to start guerilla warfare against the British, the minister added.
Kennedy Khyriem, the parliamentary secretary in charge of tourism, announced that a Knowledge and Cultural Centre will be set up at Nongkhlaw, the birth place of the warrior with a cost of Rs 1.28 crore.
Khyriem said it will be a fitting tribute to Tirot Sing, who was the Syiem of Nongkhlaw.
He said the centre will have a museum and other facilities which scholars can use for research.