By H H Mohrmen
The British government had used all channels available within its disposal to try convince the rebels to come overground and submit to the Raj. The government used the services of the Rajah of Cherra U Ram Singh and his cousin U Hajun Manick and also that of the Syiem of Hima Khyrim U Rabon Singh to meet the rebels and convince them to submit to the government. Later, on learning from Rabon Singh that the Jañtia royal who then lived in Sylhet still has influence on their hills subject, the government ordered the kur (clan) to ascend to the hills and persuade the rebels to surrender.
BWD Morton in his journal entry from September 27-30 1862 noted that on September 28 Hajun and the kurs from Jañtiapur (the Jañtia royal family) had come up from Jañtiapur to meet Morton. The government has used Hajun Manick to convince the kur or the royal clan to convince the rebels to end their fight. Morton met with the kur and on being satisfied of their claim to heirship of the throne, promised to communicate with the government their pension claims from the government, next day. Morton also remembered that while in Sylhet he had learnt that the magistrate has spoken unfavourably of them during the Jañtia trouble of 1860. This is also interesting information because oral narratives also have mentioned about the rebellion prior to 1862 led by u Ksan Nangbah, maternal uncle of u Kiang Nangbah.
Morton also learnt that the rebels still consider them as their Rajah and expressed their desire to restore the kingdom. He suspected that the kur would still have some influence to bring the rebels to the negotiating table so he gave them Rupees 100 for their expenses and ensured that they and the Raja of Cherra who accompanied them were also properly fed. He also told the kur that if the rebels submit, then he would report favourably on their claims for the pension of Rupees 500 pen mensem and the condition is that payment of the same will immediately be suspended should the Jañtia revolt again. The kur and Hajun Manick then left for Shangpung and on the way they met the Rajah of Cherra.
On September 30, Morton noted that Rabon Singh, Raja of Khyrim sent some of his minister to Lad Tuber to meet the leader of the rebellion and the chief of Jowai u Kiang Nangbah. The Rajah reported that some fifty rebels met the myntris but they were adamant that they can do nothing until they received a sign from U Kiang. It was also noted that Prokas/Prakah Chander, a Bengali Mohurir informed BWD Murton that Hajun Manick told him that if the kurs use their influence the rebels will submit. In the course of the day Rajah Ram Singh of Cherra also sent a message to Morton that since he could not convince the chief to meet him in Nartiang, he planned to meet him in the jungles and hence requested that a tent be arranged for him. Morton said that Lieutenant Sadliers reported that the rebels in Nartiang expressed their willingness to submit and they were only waiting for a signal from their chief.
Morton’s journal entry on October, 3 stated that Ram Singh, Rajah of Cherra sent a message to say that he hoped to meet the rebel leader u Kiang Nangbah on the same day at Lad Tuber. While Lieutenant Andrew informed that thousands of rebels have assembled at Shangpung village to speak with the kurs and to see the golden sword which is the property of the late Rajah of Jañtiapur.
Three days later on Monday October 6, Hajun Manick informed that he and the kurs had manage to meet the seven principal leaders including u Kiang Nangbah. Six of them wished to submit except u Kiang Nangbah who talked about getting aid from the Burmese etc. From 8 to 13 of October, Morton visited Shillong via Dienglieng to meet the committee members appointed by the government to settle upon the new station.
On October 13 they marched back to Jowai and found that the mediator had returned with unfavourable reports and that the rebels now demanded their independence. All the mediators from Ram Singh, Rajah of Cherra, to Hajun Manick and Rabon Singh, Rajah of Khyrim, corroborated the statement made by each of these Rajahs.
Examination of Ram Singh, Rajah of Cherra and his cousin, Hajun Manick was taken by Captain Morton, Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Khasi Jañtia hills in the presence of Major Langmore, Commanding the 33rd Native Infantry, on 13 October, 1862.
Ram Singh, Rajah of Cherra in his reply to the DC’s question said that the Dalois he met at Lad Tuber, were u Myllon Daloi of Mynso, the Daloi of Rymbai, the Daloi of Raliang, Shilliang Myntang, Sutnga and the Daloi of Nongjngi. He also said that he did not recognize them all but people said that all the Dalois were present. In the durbar he met about 1500 rebels that day and they all refused to surrender.
Ram Sing also reported that he had arranged for another meeting with the rebels on Saturday at Nartiang and when he was asked the purpose of the meeting he said the rebels wished to hear what the government would do, to which the officer’s reply was that the government’s stand is that it will pardon the rebels if they surrender but would not entertain any demand from the rebel even if it is about taxes.
Hajun Manick in his reply to the Deputy Commissioner, stated that he first met the rebels at Dawki Bazar on the frontiers of the Khyrim state with the Jañtia hills. The rebel he met were, a Sangot of Jowai, a Langdoh of Jowai, a Langdoh of Padu, the Daloi of Darang, a Myntri of Lamin. About 300 rebels met him at the meeting in Dawki along with one member of the kur syiem. He also met the Langdoh of Jowai afterwards at Shangpung and informed that two durbars were held in Shangpung. At the first dorbar the rebels present were, the rebel Daloi of Jowai U Kiang Nangbah, the Daloi of Shangpung u Kiri Daloi, the Daloi of Raliang, the Daloi of Shilliang Myntang, the Daloi of Rymbai, a Pator of Nartiang and the rebel Daloi of Nongjngi. BWD Morton explained that the word rebel was inserted before the name of some rebels because the real Dalois have remained friendly with the government, while the rebels have elected a person from amongst themselves as Daloi in their place.
At the Dorbar u Kiang Nangbah and the rebels from Jowai were seated by themselves. When Hajun asked them the reason for their revolt, they said they desired to hold a puja at Ïalong and had sent their Daloi u Manick Pakynteñ to seek Major Rowlatts’s permission. When they received the permission, they accordingly organized their Pastieh but Soorkee Darogah interfered and confiscated the swords, the shield and other item used in the Pastieh. Hajun said that if they had any complaints against the Darogah they should do so, but the rebels do not see any use of filing a complaint. In the second Dorbar at Shangpung Hajun explained to the rebels that the act of sacrilege was not authorized by the government and it will pardon them if they submit but the rebels instead charged that the soldiers had also stolen their dhan at Mynso.
Hajun said that he was also present at the Dorbar which was held at Lad Tuber and he reported that all the rebel leaders were present except for u Kiang Nangbah who was sick. The rebels said they would be satisfied if the government gave them back their kingdoms and excused them their taxes etc. Hajun also said that six of the seven Dalois whom he had met in Shangpung earlier and had expressed their desire to submit to the government have now changed their minds. They spoke about their Raj and blamed the sepoys for stealing their dhan at Mynso as the reason which compelled them to change their mind. BWD Morton after examining the mediators, was of the opinion that the rebels were simply using delaying tactics to buy time till the rice was harvested. (BWD Morton’, DC Khasi Jaintia hills letter to the Secretary Government of Bengal dated 15th October 1862).
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