By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 6: Chasing the ghost of a desecrated legacy, the Meghalaya government has formally petitioned the new Bangladesh regime to restore the memorial of Khasi legend U Tirot Sing Syiem, months after it was razed to the ground by rioters in Dhaka.
The bust, located at the entrance of the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka, was destroyed when the building was torched during the violent uprising that led to the ousting of the previous government. While official accounts previously downplayed the incident as a “law and order problem,” the destruction of the memorial has been felt deeply in the Khasi Hills as a second exile for the King of Nongkhlaw.
Arts and Culture Principal Secretary FR Kharkongor confirmed that the state government raised the issue during a recent meeting between the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, and senior officials.
“Since there is a new regime now, we will continue to hold dialogue on the matter,” Kharkongor said. He added that a formal representation has been submitted to the High Commission to ensure the memorial is re-erected.
The stakes for the restoration are high. U Tirot Sing died in Dhaka as a political prisoner on July 17, 1835, after leading a fierce resistance against British colonial expansion.
Nearly 190 years after his death, the Syiem of Nongkhlaw remains the soul of Khasi resistance, making the Dhaka memorial a site of immense historical and cultural pride. The state government now faces the challenge of ensuring the interim administration in Dhaka grants the legendary leader the respect his legacy demands on foreign soil.
