Shillong, July 17: Two 15-foot statues honouring Khasi freedom fighters U Bormanik Syiem of Hima Shyllong and U Sngap Sing Syiemlieh of Hima Maram were unveiled at Laitarted, Nongthliew, on Friday. The monuments were installed by the Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) as part of an initiative to preserve the memory and contributions of lesser-known leaders of the Khasi resistance against British colonial rule. The unveiling coincided with the 191st death anniversary of U Tirot Sing Syiem and the foundation day of the HYC.
The statue of U Sngap Sing Syiemlieh was unveiled by Niandro Syiemiong of Hima Maram, while the monument dedicated to U Bormanik Syiem was unveiled by Habapan Sing Syiem, Deputy Syiem of Hima Khyrim. Traditional heads, socio-political leaders and activists from different parts of Meghalaya attended the programme. Among those present were G Kharlukhi, Myntri of Hima Mylliem, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem, general secretary Rhembor Saiborne and vice-president Donbok Kharlyngdoh. Social activists from the Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills also attended the ceremony in a show of solidarity with the initiative.
The HYC described the site as a major patriotic and cultural heritage enclave dedicated to preserving the history of the Khasi freedom struggle and passing it on to future generations. The monuments were conceptualised and created by local artists from the Riti Academy. Historical research, documentation and development of the visual representations were undertaken by the academy’s Documentation Cell.
The project was led by Chief Creative Director Raphael Warjri, with sculptors Banteilang Hynniewta, Returnwell Sutong and Skhemlang Hynniewta. Local artisans Iallissing Mawrie, Bapynskhem Mawrie and Batskhemlang Kharumnuid also assisted in completing the monuments.
Organisers said the installation seeks to permanently preserve the sacrifices of the resistance-era Khasi chiefs and create greater public awareness about their role in defending the sovereignty of the Khasi states.
Role in the Khasi resistance
U Bormanik Syiem of Hima Shyllong emerged as an important leader of the Khasi resistance when he challenged the authority of the British East India Company in 1828. He opposed British interference in the lowland area of Dimurua, bordering Assam, confiscated revenues collected by British tax officers and declared his intention to reclaim the territory for the Khasi inhabitants.
Bormanik Syiem later collaborated with U Tirot Sing Syiem in planning ambushes and military operations against British forces. He also reportedly sought to encourage neighbouring regions, including Assam, Bhutan and the Singpho areas, to join the resistance against colonial expansion.
Tensions intensified following alleged misconduct by British troops during the construction of a strategic road through Nongkhlaw. On April 4, 1829, Khasi warriors attacked the British military station at Nongkhlaw, killing Lieutenant Richard Bedingfield and inflicting casualties on the colonial forces.
Captain Philip Bowles Burlton and members of his escort were later killed in another ambush near the Assam frontier. The confrontations marked the beginning of the First Anglo-Khasi War, which continued from 1829 to 1833.
U Tirot Sing Syiem was subsequently captured by the British and exiled to Dacca Central Jail, where he died on July 17, 1835. Responding to Tirot Sing’s call for unity against the East India Company, U Sngap Sing Syiemlieh of Hima Maram mobilised his warriors to defend Khasi sovereignty.
After the capture of Tirot Sing and the defeat of Bormanik Syiem’s rescue efforts, Sngap Sing continued the armed resistance. He gathered his people on November 30 to reaffirm their commitment to protecting their ancestral land, cultural identity and traditional heritage.
During the Second Anglo-Khasi War from 1835 to 1839, Sngap Sing transformed Nongnah into a fortified centre of resistance. Using guerrilla warfare and the difficult terrain of Maharam, his forces reportedly repelled several British military expeditions and prolonged the resistance for four years.
His campaign ended after his defences were exposed through internal betrayal, leading to his capture in 1839. He was later granted amnesty and allowed to continue as Syiem of Hima Maharam until his death in 1846.
The HYC said the struggles of U Tirot Sing Syiem, U Bormanik Syiem and U Sngap Sing Syiemlieh remain enduring symbols of the Khasi people’s commitment to freedom, sovereignty and self-determination.
