A statue of U Tirot Sing, a freedom fighter from Khasi Hills who rebelled against British Colonialism some 200 years ago, was unveiled on Friday at Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Dhaka. The Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Sniawbhalang Dhar and the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma jointly unveiled the statue on Friday.
Tirot Sing, a tribal chief known as ‘the Hero of the Khasi Hills’ of Meghalaya and of his heroic struggle against the British colonizers that his life story has become a saga and an inspiration to many.
Throwing more light on the life and bravery of Tirot Singh, historian and former Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) David R. Syiemlieh said that Tirot Sing led an attack on the colonial forces on April 8, 1829. He sensed the attempts of Britishers to take over control of the Khasi Hills under the pretext of road construction connecting Guwahati to Sylhet through Khasi Hills. Tirot Sing was captured four years later after the Anglo-Khasi War and died in Dhaka as a political prisoner on July 17, 1835, said David R. Syiemlieh.
Paying tribute to U Tirot Sing, the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Sniawbhalang Dhar said Tirot Sing steadfastly emerged as a symbolic figure of the Khasi’s indomitable spirit. He said setting up a memorial of U tirot Sing at Dhaka, where he achieved heroic martyrdom is befitting honour to the Hero of the Khasi Hills.
Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Pranay Verma said the statue of U Tirot Sing unveiled in Dhaka will stand as a testimony to his valour and selfless quest for the freedom of his people from colonial Oppression. He said it will also be a testimony to the close historical relations of Meghalaya with Bangladesh.
Ministers and Officers from the Government Meghalaya, historians and scholars, and guests were there in the August gathering on the occasion.
Navalsang Parmar(Dhaka)