SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government has begun the process of assessing the condition of the memorial dedicated to Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem in Bangladesh and is considering rebuilding the site once it receives an official status report.
Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai said on Tuesday that he has directed the department’s Principal Secretary to stay in touch with the Bangladesh Embassy in Dhaka and obtain details on the present condition of the memorial.Based on the report, the state government will examine the possibility of reconstructing the memorial, including installing a life-size statue of U Tirot Sing. The memorial, located at the entrance of the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka, was damaged during the political unrest in Bangladesh that eventually led to the fall of the previous government.
Following the incident, the Meghalaya government had appealed to Bangladesh’s new administration to restore the memorial, describing it as a site of immense historical and cultural importance for the people of Meghalaya, particularly the Khasi community. U Tirot Sing, the Syiem of Nongkhlaw, is remembered for leading the Khasi resistance against British colonial rule in the early nineteenth century.
After his capture by the British, he was exiled to Dhaka, where he died in captivity on July 17, 1835.The memorial in Dhaka commemorates the final chapter of his life and honours one of Meghalaya’s most respected freedom fighters. Its destruction during the unrest drew concern across the state, where U Tirot Sing continues to be remembered as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. Shullai said the government will decide its next course of action after receiving an official update from the authorities concerned, adding that every effort will be made to ensure U Tirot Sing’s legacy is preserved and appropriately honoured.