SHILLONG, JULY 15: The Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) has requested the Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma to sanction fund from the state government’s Special Plan Assistance to renovate the Khasi Patriotic Home’ at Nongkhlaw that is dedicated to U Tirot Singh, the legendary Khasi freedom fighter, and also converted it into a museum depicting his history, contributions and achievements by way of films, paintings and sculptures that will also act as a repository of information about the him.
The “Khasi Patriotic Home” at Nongkhlaw- the birthplace of U Tirot Sing- was build through the initiative of the FKJGP and Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw in July 17 1997. Late Lok Sabha MP GG Swell had allocated fund for the building through the MPLAD scheme and he inaugurated it after it was completed.
In a memorandum submitted to Sangma, the FKJGP seems to be unhappy over the ritualistic observation of the death anniversary of U Tirot Sing on July 17 every year. It said every year on July 17, the state as whole observes the death anniversary of one of the tallest freedom fighters of the country U Tirot Sing, the Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw and the first Khasi ruler to lead the revolt against the mighty British Empire in 1829.
However, the FKJGP lamented, that the manner with which the day is observed every year by the government through holiday and official functions in memory of U Tirot is only ritualistic and not at all befitting of this foremost freedom fighter of the state who laid his own life for the sake of freedom, honour and identity.
The FKJGP, therefore, wants the state government to take initiative to showcase the life and time of this great freedom fighter not only by ritualistically declaring July 17 as a state holiday to mark his death anniversary but also by depicting his life through arts and making available and spreading the information about this great son of the soil.-By Our Reporter
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