By A M Syiem and H. Syiemlieh
How did the Nongkhlaw Syiemship come to celebrate the day of Tirot Sing’s Syiem death anniversary every year on 29th March before they discovered the actual day of his death i.e. the 17th July 1835 every year, this could be due to the research conducted by writers from different subject fields who worked tirelessly, due to their love of the Khasi Hills. This has led us all to give our due respect and celebrate the life of the great Patriot on this date.
Ever since we achieved our Independence from British rule in 1947 the Government of India saw it fit to remember and honour Tirot Sing of Nongkhlaw Syiemship, along with other freedom fighters like U Kiang Nangbah, of Jaintia Hills, and other national freedom fighters who also sacrificed their lives for the country and its beloved citizens. _
Just going back to the past to enlighten the readers, the Memorial Tribute foundation stone in remembrance of the bravery of U Tirot Sing Syiem was laid down on the December 15, 1952, which was inaugurated by the then Governor of undivided Assam, Shri Jairamdas Doulatram in a field in Mairang town which is now called Madan Mot Tirot. Then On the March 29, 1953, the aforesaid governor of Assam also came to observe the auspicious day of celebration along with the presence of Chief of the Nongkhlaw Syiemship at that period, Paiem Kedro Manik Syiem who was from the house of Mawnai and Mawlong Syiem.
To supplement more on the beginning of this celebration of the death anniversary of U Tirot Sing Syiem, it was first initiated by the people of Mawnai village under Hima Nongkhlaw, who were not yet converted to Christianity. Hence the celebration was accompanied by traditional dances. From this initiation onwards the people from other places within the Nongkhlaw Syiemship would come together every year to pay respect to Tirot Sing Syiem on March 28& 29.
Besides the traditional dances there was also a public procession parade on April 4, 1986 to commemorate the day on which Tirot Sing Syiem declared war against the British forces. This has been inscribed on the Memorial Tribute of U Tirot Sing Syiem at the mentioned site in Mairang town._ This piece of land was bought by the Nongkhlaw Syiemship not long ago where the Hima administrative office was built along with the Dorbar (council) house of the Hima Nongkhlaw adjacent to the place where the monument stands. According to legends the wooden nails, the woods used for construction and the stone pillar called Maw Shankhrum (foundation pillar) belonging to the original house of U Tirot Sing Syiem were buried along under the foundation of the present Memorial Monument, wherefore people of his native kingdom would every year come to place flowers on his monument to this day as a symbolic tribute to His ultimate struggle and sacrifice. These materials were all brought from Nongkhlaw village which was the traditional capital of Hima Nongkhlaw, from its genesis lies, from the first native king who was consecrated with the religious ceremony of Tang Jait Syiem by the Five ruling Clan Lyngdoh at Mawthangsyiar Village to U Shajer who was an exile from the royal family of Hima Sutnga in Jaintia Hills who ventured into this region with his sister Ka Shaphlong, where there was no ruling chief except the Lyngdohship and he became the First Chieftain of Hima Nongkhlaw Syiemship and his Sister is the first Syiemsad of Hima Nongkhlaw. This was recorded by authors from the Ri Khasi and Jaintia Hills from their book that Shajer after being consecrated to hold power even fought a war against Don Ahom to take possession of Borduar village in present day Assam and annexed it to Hima Nongkhlaw. The question now is why in the past, the day of remembrance of his passing is held on March 29 every year? Maybe there is a misunderstanding because, on March 29, 1834, an agreement was made between U Rijon Sing and Capt. Francis Jenkins, Agent Governor of the North-East Frontier, with Agent H. Inglis as a witness. The agreement between Tirot Sing and Mr. David Scott, Agent to the Governor General was renewed in the year 1826, when Tirot Sing was himself the king. After Tirot Sing was captured by the British government and was deported for imprisonment to Dhaka, on the March 29, it was misunderstood as the day of his death. These words were taken from “A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries (Revised and Continued up to 1929) Vol. XII: Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Assam and Burma. Compiled by C.U. Aitchison” Assam No. XXII 1834
(Translation of the Articles of an agreement furnished to the Governor- General’s Agent, North-East Frontier, by Rujjum Sing, Rajah, on his accession to the Raj of Nungklow, on the 29th March 1834) The Written Agreement of Rujjum Sing (Rijon Sing), Resident of Nongklow (Nongkhlaw), executed to the following purport: the government has appointed me to the Raj of the Late Teerut Sing on 29th March 1834. Perhaps the title was misinterpreted during the translation process undertaken during the British administration._
On the 25th anniversary of the Khasi Cultural Society (KCS) that was held in Polo Ground, there was also the anniversary celebration of Syiem Tirot Sing “(150 year Death Anniversary of u Tirot Sing)”, which was held on February 22, 1984. This strengthened the belief of many that this was the day to commemorate Tirot Sing’s death anniversary not only in Mairang but all other districts of Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. Government offices and educational institutions observe this day by declaring it a holiday as a mark of respect for the great patriot. The question is why is the day of remembrance not celebrated on the July 17, as his actual date of death (official date) as recorded on the Memorial Monument in Mairang town since this was also confirmed by historians. Till this day, the Government of Meghalaya is still trying to collect and attain the official records related to the imprisonment of Tirot Sing from 1833 to 1835 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The people of Meghalaya in general, and the Khasis in particular, express their gratefulness to the Government of India for releasing the commemorative stamp of Tirot Sing Syiem in the year 1988. A request could also be made to the Government of Meghalaya through the Department of Arts and Culture and Meghalalya Heritage Authority, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council along with the office of Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, to maintain and preserve the Memorial Stone in Mairang town that was erected in 1952 as a historical heritage site inaugurated during the tenure of the Government of Undivided Assam, besides the possibility of having a heritage memorial museum in Mairang town depicting the sequence of life events and struggle of U Tirot Sing Syiem.
The Memorial Stone is significant not only for the present generation but the future generations of the state and other historians and tourists from outside the state who are interested in knowing and documenting the heroic deeds of this beloved Native Warrior who sacrificed his life for the freedom of his people and one who stood against the colonial imperialism of the British.
