Call for recognition to supporting warriors
SHILLONG: Historian and former Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), David Reid Syiemlieh said the history of U Tirot Sing is incomplete as interpretation from Khasi side is lacking.
He delivered a special lecture on contribution of U Tirot Sing, the chief of Hima Nongkhlaw in resisting against the British expansion in Khasi Hills on Thursday at Lady Keane College seminar hall.
“The history of U Tirot Sing is incomplete, particularly the warriors and the last of U Tirot Sing are incomplete,” he said adding that the documentation also needs to be carried out wherein an interpretation should also be done from the Khasi side as well.
He also revealed that history texts rarely make reference to supporting warriors. He cited the case of Monbhut, a warrior leader under Tirot Sing.
After years of research, Syiemlieh found out the correct date of death of Tirot Sing, which is July 17, 1835 at Dacca.
He urged the students and faculty to incorporate the history of the North East into the syllabus and to insist on incorporating chapters and sections of Kiang Nangbah, Tirot Sing and Pa Togan Sangma so that it becomes relevant for the students.
Despite being a legendary figure in the history of the state, not much is known about the life and circumstances leading to death of the Khasi warrior.
Back in 2016, the Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, Paiem Phrestar Manik Syiemlieh asserted that an extensive research should be done on Tirot Sing Syiem since stories about him were extracted from British records and claimed that they are inaccurate.