By Uma Purkayastha
It was July 17, 1835. U Tirot Sing, the freedom fighter in the northeast region, died in British custody in Dacca Jail at the age of around 42. No picture other than the death report is available regarding the great hero. Even his mortal body was not brought back to his motherland (the Khasi Hills).
Schoolchildren in Meghalaya enjoy July 17 as a holiday, naming ‘U Tirot Sing’s Day’, but most of them are ignorant of the actual significance of the day because the illustrious contribution of patriotism of the great hero is yet to be specifically included in their curriculum, which each and every student of Meghalaya in particular should know.
Tirot Sing, when in captivity was offered lucrative proposal of Kingship in lieu of allegiance to the British rulers, could roaringly say ‘Better die an Independent King than reign as the Vassal’! Protection of sanctity and chastity of his motherland (the Khasi Hills) was the main issue of Tirot Sing’s rebellion against the British. Such a burning spirit of patriotsim should be infused in the minds of children through their school lessons and cultural activities like drama, skits etc.
The inspiring patriotic life history of U Tirot Sing should be known by the schoolchildren and the youth of the country more keenly; and more researches should be made on the last days of the great patriot in prison and his subsequent tragic end.
Recently, Governor of Meghalaya Ganga Prasad, while addressing the commemoration of state’s martyrs at Raj Bhavan, very rightly expressed his opinion that the government should take initiatives to include life history of esate martyrs in school curriculum, and I strongly suggest that U Tirot Sing’s name should be placed as the pioneer of the martyrs in the Khasi Hills.
During 1824, when David Scott, an agent to the East India Company, a shrewd person, approached Tirot Sing, Syiem of Nongkhlaw, with the request of sicking permission for constructing a link road through the Khasi Hills for the British troops, Tirot with due consultation of his Durbar agreed to the proposal; but there were some conditions that the British Raj should not interfere in any internal affair of the state; and the British Raj should protect the hill estate from foreign enemies.
But within a very short period Tirot could read the evil motive of Scott who betrayed him in some very important matters of the state. Tirot Sing, united with other chiefs of the hills, was determined to drive out the white strangers from his motherland. On April 4, 1829, Tirot sent a band of Khasi warriors and declared war against Lt. Burlton at Nongkhlaw. Lt. Burlton and his soldiers fled towards the plains of Kamrup but were caught and killed by the Khasi warriors.
Thousands of young men and women joined Tirot Sing to fight against the foreign power. It was the first uprising against the British power, in the North East region of India, headed by Tirot Sing, which is known as ‘Nongkhlaw Massacre’ (Alexander Mackenzie memorandum 1869).
David Scott, the ring leader of the total betray who was in Cherrapunji, narrowly escaped, but Lt. Bendingfield and Dr H Beadon were brutally killed in that attack. The way Tirot Sing organised the movement and received the co-operation of all the Khasi Syicms and warriors, was highly appreciated by the observers. Tirot, himself could create a terror to the powerful British.
In the book ‘British Paramounty’ and ‘Indian Renaissance’, KM Munshi appreciated the war-skill of Tirot Sing and his super guerilla tactics and compared his talents with that of the great Maratha King, Shivaji as the record reads — ‘Tirot Sing and his associates with a military force estimated to be 10,000 evaded the British, but occasionally swooped down upon the plains, causing alarm all over Assam. Once the panic was so great, even in Gauhati, the head quarters of the British, that large number of people including high officials kept boats ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice’. (Ref:- KM Munshi’s British Paramountary and Indian Renaissance).
Scott observed the strong determination of Tirot Sing and his followers and devised the methods of ‘divide and rule’ by sowing seeds of distrusts among the top leaders of Tirot Sing.
Sing Manik, the chief of the Khyriem state offered his service to the British to negotiate between the Khasi and the British for some peaceful settlement. He arranged a meeting at Nongkhlaw on August 19, 1832; but Tirot declined to meet the British officer, if they were fully armed. It was decided that the parties should attend the meeting unarmed and accordingly the meeting was held on August 23, 1832.
On January 13, 1833, the great Tirot Sing surrendered very gracefully to the British officer Captt. Inglis at Lum Mardiang. In trial, Justice TC Robertson, pronounced the sentence of his life imprisonment, but the council of the supreme government, however revised the order and Tirot was sent to Dacca jail for detention.
When Tirot Sing arrived in Dacca, he was not allowed even any personal belonging except a blanket to cover his whole body. But Tirot bravely claimed royal treatment, from the British ruler and the British government had to treat him as a State prisoner. On July 17, 1835, Tirot Sing died at 1 pm in Dacca Jail under British custody.
Tirot spent his last days in confinement and solitude. Nothing is known so far regarding the physical and mental condition of the great leader in British custody. This untold chapter of the life of the great patriot is a mystery to his countrymen, till the day.
