U Tirot Sing Day in India 2023: Date, History, Facts about Tirot Sing

The Indian state of Meghalaya celebrates U Tirot Sing Day on every 17th of July as a regional public holiday. This celebration honours Tirot Singh, a Meghalayan freedom fighter who led an 18th-century revolt against the British. In addition to numerous religious and tribal festivals, the northeastern states of India celebrate several holidays honouring local tribal leaders who resisted the British colonisation of their territory during this time period. U Tirot Sing was one of the most distinguished of these valiant combatants.

The background of U Tirot Sing Day

Tirot Sing, also known as U Tirot Sing Syiem, was a Khasi leader in the early 1800s. Born in 1802, he passed away in 1835. His progenitors were members of the clan Syiemlieh. He was the ‘Syiem’ (chief) of Nongkhlaw, a Khasi Hills village. His council, comprised of delegates from the region’s most potent clans, shared corporate responsibility with him.

Tirot Sing declared war on the British and attacked them when they attempted to seize control of the Khasi Hills. In 1826, the British asserted control over the Brahmaputra Valley. By constructing a road through the Khasi Hills, they hoped to connect it to the Surma Valley.

David Scott, on behalf of the British, petitioned Tirot Sing, the Khasi chief, for permission to construct the road, assuring Sing that he would retain the sovereignty of his province and be able to engage in unrestricted trade. However, Sing was perturbed to discover that the British had strengthened their garrisons in the area, as he was suspicious of the British’s true intentions. He then issued a notice to the British to evacuate the region, which they disregarded.

In April 1829, hundreds of Tirot Sing’s combatants assaulted a British stronghold, igniting the four-year Anglo-Khasi war. Given the Khasi’s lack of equipment and their overwhelming numerical disadvantage, Tirot Sing and his men’s four-year resistance is a testament to their courage. The British eventually captured Tirot Sing and sent him to Dhaka, where he perished in prison on July 17, 1835.

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