U Tirot Sing
A commemorative postage stamp on U Tirot Sing Syiem, Chief of Khadsawphra Syiemship, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya :
Issued by India
Issued on Feb 3, 1988
Description of Designs : The stamp was designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The first day cover is designed by Shri Sankha Samantha and the cancellation by Smt Alka Sharma, the latter based on a statue of U Tirot Sing.
Type : Stamp, Postal Used
Colour : Single colour
Denomination : 60 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Indigenous unwatermarked PG Matt coated stamp paper
Number Printed : 10,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 35
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printed : India Security Press
Name : Tirot Singh Syiem
Born on —
Died on Jul 17, 1835 at Dhaka, British India [now Bangladesh]
About :
- U Tirot Sing, a hero of the Khasis, was born at the dawn of the 19th century, and became the Nongkhlaw Syiem in 1826. The family had its branches at Nongkhlaw and Mawmluh besides Bordwar in the plains.
- Tirot Sing clashed with David Scott of the English East India Company when the latter violated a treaty concluded with the people of Nongkhlaw in 1826. Tirot Sing‘s war with the army of the English continued from 1829-1833. In the early stages of the war Tirot Sing concentrated on the operations in the south, leaving the defence of the north to his allies. The English armies subjugated many of the Khasis and penetrated Shillong, but at Nongkhlaw they faced resistance. Tirot Sing refused to make peace with the English unless they accepted the terms of the Treaty of 1826. He was declared an outlaw.
- Shifting his base to Krem Tirot, a cave on the spur of Diengiei peak, Tirot Sing attacked lower Assam and Sylhet from 1830-1831 with his allies. Not having safeguarded the hills behind them, they were unprepared for the English in the hills and were forced to withdraw. The English recovered their lost ground but David Scott passed away in August, 1832.
- Many of the Syiems had been forced or persuaded to offer their allegiance to the English. But some still rallied around Tirot Sing. The English began negotiations for peace. In August, 1832 their negotiations with Tirot Sing failed since he was adamant that the English must leave his land. In October the English suggested that a new treaty should be signed by which Tirot Sing‘s life was to be spared if he abdicated. A Conference of the Nongkhlaw villagers decided that Rijon Sing would succeed Tirot Sing. In early 1833 Tirot Sing surrendered to Capt. H. Inglis. He was deported to Dhaka where he was tried and imprisoned. He passed away at Dhaka.
- Material for Text, Courtesy: U Tirot Sing – Review of his Life and Career by Hamlet Bareh.
