Various groups and individuals marked the 189th death anniversary of U Tirot Sing Syiem in numerous ways today.
North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) held a ceremony attended by the university’s teachers, students, and non-teaching staff.
The event held on the NEHU campus and chaired by Prof. Devendra Nayak, the Vice-Chancellor (I/C) of NEHU honoured the legacy of the Khasi chief known for his valiant struggle against British colonial powers.
Prof. Sumarbin Umdor from the Department of Economics delivered an insightful talk on “The Life and Freedom Struggle of U Tirot Sing Syiem,” highlighting the warrior’s sacrifice and guerrilla warfare tactics against the British. Prof. Umdor stressed the significance of the day and praised contemporary academicians and administrators for shedding light on lesser-known heroes of India.
Col. Omkar Singh (Retd), the Registrar, in his remarks, underscored the need for modern administrative acumen and the lessons that can be drawn from U Tirot Sing’s heroic efforts for a better future. He emphasised the importance of learning from history to build a more just and equitable society.
Prof. Devendra Nayak, from the Department of Geography, applauded the participants for their efforts in illuminating the life and struggles of U Tirot Sing Syiem. He highlighted the necessity for the younger generation to be aware of the contributions of unsung heroes and called for increased research on these freedom fighters, whose stories are often omitted from mainstream history books.
Prof. Nayak urged the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) to take a leading role in organising programmes and raising awareness about freedom fighters. He assured that the university would fully support such initiatives.
Earlier, Toniho S. Kharsati, the General Secretary of NEHUSU, emphasised the importance of liberty, justice, and welfare activities both on and off the NEHU campus, advocating for holistic growth inspired by the lives of freedom fighters.
The event was a fitting tribute to U Tirot Sing Syiem, celebrating his legacy and inspiring future generations to continue his fight for justice and freedom. Prof. Devendra K. Biswal from the Department of Zoology convened the overall programme to pay homage to the brave-heart U Tirot Sing Syiem.
At Kench’s Trace, local MLA Sanbor Shulla and members of the South Shillong monitoring-cum-implementation committee organised a floral tribute to honour Tirot Sing. The memorial ceremony began with a prayer service and flower tribute. Shullai and the members then distributed food packets to street children, orphans, the disabled, beggars and poor people within the constituency.
