Page 49 - NIS English 16-31 July 2022

Amrit Mahotsav Nation

THE WARRIOR WHO SHOOK THE MIGHTY BRITISH

WITH SWORD AND BOW-ARROWS

Born: 1802, Died: 17 July 1835
The Indian freedom struggle gave birth to many
warriors who dedicated their lives to liberating India
from British rule. One such warrior was Raja U Tirot
Sing of the Khasi tribe of the western Khasi Hills of
Meghalaya who fought with the British for 10 years.
Even before India's first freedom struggle, Tirot Sing
had led a rebellion against the British rulers at a very
young age. He was the forerunner of India's freedom
struggle. Tirot Sing's sacrifice for the nation inspired
a whole generation of freedom fighters not only in
Meghalaya and the Northeast but across the country. against the British gun and war strategy. Despite
British wanted to build a road to Assam via this, the fighters of the Khasi community under the
Meghalaya to connect Dhaka with the plains. Tirot leadership of Tirot Sing took the British head-on. In
Sing did not want this plan of the British officer David the absence of modern weapons, Tirot Sing's army
Scott to succeed. The confrontation between the was eventually defeated and he was arrested. He
two sides escalated and Tirot Sing's army attacked was imprisoned in Dhaka Jail and died in the same
the British on 2 April 1829. In the battle against the jail on July 17, 1835. It is said that the British had
British, Tirot Sing displayed exemplary bravery and killed Tirot Sing by giving him poison. Tirot Sing, who
excellent fighting skills. In the Anglo-Khasi War kept the flame of the freedom struggle alive, also
(1829-33), Tirot Sing and his loyal followers used worked tirelessly for the unification of the North East.
guerrilla tactics to escape the colonial forces. In this The Khasi tribe and the people of Meghalaya still
battle, U Tirot Sing had opposed the British modern remember the sacrifice of their famous revolutionary
weapons with traditional weapons. Tirot Sing with gratitude and great pride. A public
In fact, they had only traditional war weapons like holiday is observed on his death anniversary every
arrows, spears, swords, etc. which were not effective year in Meghalaya.

even in jail. He continued his freedom struggle from few years in Papparapatti , where he, along with his
jail through the monthly magazine Gyanbhanu. friends, helped Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das lay
Unfortunately, Subramaniya Siva contracted leprosy the foundation stone of a temple for Bharat Mata.
in jail due to which he had to reduce his travels and But unfortunately, he could not give much time to
speeches after his release. However, because of his this noble cause. He died on 23 July 1925 due to
patriotism, people continued to be attracted to him, increasing leprosy and weakness. On August 1,
and because of his speeches, he was imprisoned 2021, a new library building was announced in honor
many more times. Not only that, but Siva also gave of freedom fighter Subramaniya Siva at the memorial
his support to the labor movements in the then complex built ten years ago at Papparapatti in the
Calcutta, Madras, Tuticorin, and Tirunelveli. Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Also realizing
Subramaniya Siva was also an eminent writer, his dream last year, a bronze statue of Bharat Mata
and he is known for his books including Ramanuja about one meter high was also unveiled in the same
Vijayam and Madhva Vijayam. He spent his last complex.

New India Samachar July 16-31, 2022 47