Williamnagar, December 12 : At the commemoration of the 153rd death anniversary of Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced a new government initiative to script and document the life of the revered Garo freedom fighter for use in school and college plays and dramas.
Speaking at the solemn programme held at Togan Park, Chisobibra in East Garo Hills, the Chief Minister said the move aims to ensure that younger generations remain connected to the stories of their forefathers.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness that a short play on Pa Togan had already been created and said the government would take the effort further. “We will encourage schools and colleges to organise plays and dramas on the lives of Meghalaya’s freedom fighters. A detailed script on Pa Togan’s life will be prepared and shared with educational institutions,” he said. He added that such initiatives would deepen awareness, instill pride and inspire students to remain rooted in their cultural identity.
In his address, the Chief Minister described Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma as a symbol of courage, sacrifice and patriotic resolve. “Pa Togan stood up against the British Empire and sacrificed his life for the nation. He fought to protect our land, our identity, and our freedom,” he said, adding that the story of Pa Togan remains vital for the youth of the A’chik community.
He emphasised that it is the responsibility of each generation to pass on stories that shape the collective identity of a people. “Our past reminds us of who we are, and we must continue reminding our future generation,” he said.
The Chief Minister assured continued government support to the Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma Memorial Association, which organises the annual commemoration.
He informed that nearly ₹17 lakh had been sanctioned under the World Tourism Day Community-led Tourism Fund and the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund (CMSDF) for infrastructure at Chisobibra, and an additional ₹20 lakh would soon be released for further improvement of the site
Cabinet Minister Marcuise N. Marak also addressed the gathering, praising Pa Togan’s unparalleled bravery and leadership. He called his sacrifice “a shining example of patriotism and unity” and thanked the organisers for preserving the warrior’s legacy year after year.
The programme also revisited the legendary final battle of 1872, when Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma led his warriors against British forces invading Garo Hills. Armed not with rifles but with banana-stem shields, Pa Togan rallied his men beneath a giant cotton tree in Rongrenggre with the cry “The land we stand on is the pride of our forefathers.”
Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the A’chik warriors fought fiercely. Pa Togan, leading from the front, was eventually surrounded, but his final call—
“A’chik janggi ong∙na! Our land must live!”—echoed across the battlefield. He fell that day, but his defiance ignited a legacy that continues to define the spirit and identity of the Garo people.
