Megaliths at Nongthliew to remember state heroes

SHILLONG, Dec 21: In remembrance of the heroes of the Anglo-Khasi resistance movement, megaliths have been erected at Nongthliew village on the Diengiei plateau, which is the territory within the jurisdiction of the Nongkhlaw province and is one of the largest village in the area with thousands of households and tens of thousands inhabitants.
One of the significant segments of the village, known as Laitarted, has spectacular landscape and topographical contours.
The local Dorbar granted permission to the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Nongthliew Circle, to erect megaliths in memory of the state heroes.
The organisation, between December 16 and 18, held a memorial megaliths erection ceremony, where the proposed statue of Tirot Sing Syiem will be sculpted at the centre of the complex. The megaliths were brought from Kyrphei village in Tyrsad and the erection ceremony culminated with the auspicious remembrance of the 80th death anniversary of the Khasi bard, Soso Tham.
The megalith erection ceremony was initiated by the elder, Hoping Khyllait, with prayers and incantation.
In his address, Robert June Kharjahrin, president of HYC central body, said, “The megalithic complex will be the memorial monument in honour of all the known and unknown warriors of freedom struggle against the British imperial supremacy”.
He said that each monolith represents every warrior including Syiem Bormanik of Hima Shyllong or the erstwhile Shyllong province, Syiem Sngap Sing of Hima Maharam, Monbhut, Lorshon Jaraiñ, the courageous lady Phan Nonglait and other personalities of freedom struggle.
Artists of Riti Academy have been assigned for the statue of Tirot Sing Syiem by the HYC, which is slated to be unveiled on his death anniversary.