U Tirot Sing: Khasi Freedom Fighter’s Statue Unveiled in Dhaka

A statue of U Tirot Sing, a freedom fighter from the Khasi Hills who rebelled against British colonialism 200 years ago, was unveiled at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka.

• The statue of Tirot Sing, a tribal chief who is known as 'the Hero of the Khasi Hills' of Meghalaya, was unveiled by the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Sniawbhalang Dhar, and Pranay Verma, the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. 
• Tirot Sing's heroic struggle against the British colonizers has made his life story a saga and an inspiration to many.
• Historian and former Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), David R. Syiemlieh, threw more light on Tirot Singh's life and bravery. 
• According to him Tirot Sing attacked on the colonial forces on April 8, 1829, sensing their attempts to take over control of the Khasi Hills in road construction connecting Guwahati to Sylhet through Khasi hills.
•  Tirot Sing was captured and died in Dhaka on July 17, 1835, four years after the end of the Anglo-Khasi War where he fought against the British.

Life history of Tirot Sing

• Tirot Sing, also known as U Tirot Sing Syiem, was a Khasi chief who lived in the early 19th century. He belonged to the Syiemlieh clan and opposed British domination of the Khasi Hills.
• Initially, the British and Tirot Sing had an agreement where the British would be granted permission for a road project between Guwahati and Sylhet in exchange for the regaining of possession of the duars, which were passed into Assam. 
• However, Balaram Singh, Raja of Ranee, disputed Tirot Sing's claims to the duars and went ahead with a party of armed men to establish his claim. 
• When news came that the British were reinforcing forces in Assam, Tirot Sing called a durbar again and ordered the British to evacuate Nongkhlaw. The British did not comply, and the Khasis attacked the British garrison in Nongkhlaw. 
• The Anglo-Khasi War was a conflict between the Khasi people and the British Empire from 1829 to 1833, as part of the Khasi's struggle for independence. 
• It began with Tirot Sing's attack on a British garrison that disobeyed his orders to stop a road construction project through the Khasi Hills. 
• During the war, the Khasis lacked firearms and had only swords, shields, bows, and arrows. As a result, they resorted to guerrilla activity, which lasted for about four years. Tirot Sing was shot by the British and had to hide in a cave. Eventually, he was captured by the British in January 1833 and deported to Dhaka. 

Every year on July 17th, Tirot Sing's death anniversary is commemorated as a state holiday in Meghalaya.