Tirot Sing
| U Tirot Sing | |
|---|---|
 Artist's rendering of Tirot Sing |
|
| Died | July 17, 1835 Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Cause of death | Death in Prison |
| Ethnicity | Khasi |
| Known for | Freedom struggle against the British agent David Scott |
Tirot Sing, also known as U Tirot Sing, was a king of the Khasi people in the early 19th century, who ruled in Nongkhlaw, part of the Khasi Hills. His title was Syiem — a constitutional head sharing corporate authority with his Council, generally representatives of leading clans within his territory. Tirot Sing fought against British attempts to take over control of the Khasi Hills.[1][2]
He died on 17 July 1835.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Anglo-Khasi War and Martyrdom
The British already had gained control over the Brahmaputra valley after concluding the Treaty of Yandabu in 1826.[3] Between their possessions in Sylhet and the newly acquired possessions in Lower Assam intervened the Khasi Hills. They wanted to construct a road through this area to connect Guwahati with Sylhet to save weeks of travel and malarious country. David Scott, the agent to the British Governor-General for the Northern Territory, found out that U Tirot Sing was interested in regaining possessions in the duars in return for the permission for the road project. After a two day session of the durbar (court) the assembly agreed to the proposal of the British. Work on the road was started. When Balaram Singh, Raja of Ranee, disputed U Tirot Sing's claims to the duars, he went with a party of armed men in December 1828 to establish his claim. He was confident that the British would support him, but instead was confronted by a party of sepoys who blocked his passage.[1] When news came that the British were reinforcing forces in Assam, U Tirot Sing convened a Durbar again and passed orders for the British to evacuate Nongkhlaw. The British paid no heed[4], and the Khasis attacked the British garnison in Guwahati on 2 April, 1829.[3] His men killed two British officers, and thus unleashed the fury of British retaliation. Military operations against U Tirot Sing and other Khasi chiefs were started immediately. In the Anglo-Khasi War, the Khasis lacked firearms and had only swords, shields, bows and arrows. They were untrained in the British type of warfare and soon found that it was impossible to engage in open battle against an enemy who could kill from a distance. Instead, they resorted to guerrilla activity, which dragged on for about four years.[1] Tirot Sing was captured by the British and deported to Dhaka, where he died on 17 July 1835. His death anniversary is commemorated every year in Meghalaya.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Simon, I.M. (ed.) (1991) Chapter II History Meghalaya District Gazetteers, Shillong
- ^ "U" is the masculine article in Khasi language.
- ^ a b c Eastern Panorama U Tirot Sing
- ^ Immortal Martyrs, Government of Meghalaya Official State Portal
