Dhaka, Feb 16: The commemorative statue of Khasi freedom fighter, U Tirot Sing Syiem was unveiled at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (ICCSR) in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Friday. The commemorative statue was jointly unveiled by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma and Deputy Chief Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar in the presence of Arts and Culture Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, Health Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, State Planning Board chairman, Metbah Lyngdoh, former UPSC chairperson, David Syiemlieh among a host of other dignitaries.

The thematic murals of the legendary Khasi freedom fighter were also unveiled as part of the Tirot Sing memorial. The ICCR Library in Dhaka has also been renamed as the U Tirot Sing Library.

The Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, Phrester Manick Syiemlieh, Syiem of Hima Bhowal, Kynsaiborlang Syiem along with other traditional heads were present to witness the historic event.

The historic development is the outcome of the collective and collaborative efforts led by the state’s Department of Arts and Culture with support and assistance of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the IGCC.

The U Tirot Sing Memorial was inaugurated today in Dhaka, Bangladesh where the bust of U Tirot Sing Syiem, braveheart of Khasi Hills and freedom fighter of Meghalaya was also unveiled.

U Tirot Sing Syiem’s valour in protecting his people and his land will forever make him one… pic.twitter.com/s8tfS0PMJf

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) February 16, 2024

Local artist Raphael Warjri is behind the sculpture of the commemorative statue and murals of the Khasi freedom fighter. A total amount of Rs 11 lakh had been earmarked by the Arts and Culture department for the commemorative statue. Warjri informed that it took more than a month to complete the sculpture of the commemorative statue. It may be mentioned that the murals was installed in 2022.

Later in the evening, a cultural programme under the theme “U Syiem Tirot Sing – U Khla Wait Ka Ri Khasi” will be held at Jatiya Natyashala Milanayatan, Bangladesh Shilpakala, Shegun Bagicha in Dhaka. This programme has been jointly organised by the IGCC, Dhaka, and the Department of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Genesis to Culmination – The Odyssey of Setting up the Tirot Sing Memorial at Dhaka

This historic development is the outcome of the collective and collaborative efforts led by the Department of Arts & Culture, Government of Meghalaya, with the active support and assistance of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, the Indian High Commission at Dhaka, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the IGCC (Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre).

As part of the efforts to leverage India@75 – Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), and with a view to drum up goodwill in neighbouring state’s abroad, a joint endeavour was initiated in 2021-22, to identify specific persons, events, locations, abroad which have a historical resonance with the state and which relate to our freedom struggle, either directly or indirectly and to select an appropriate country of specific interest, which meets all the above criteria, which effectively reflects the spirit of celebrating and honouring unsung heroes & overlooked regions of the freedom struggle.

Accordingly, the Department of Arts & Culture was entrusted by the Government of Meghalaya to formulate a suitable and appropriate proposal, which should simultaneously be an embodiment of lasting and enduring legacy value and also be imbued with significant historical resonance for both present and future generations of Meghalaya.

Consistent with this objective, the Department proposed the setting up of a befitting U Tirot Sing Memorial at Dhaka, Bangladesh, with a view to commemorate & honour the heroic martyrdom achieved by our very first braveheart U Tirot Sing at Dhaka., who has steadfastly emerged as a symbolic figure of the Khasi’s indomitable spirit & resilience.

February, 16th, 2024, will therefore be a historic day for India in general and Meghalaya in particular, with the unveiling of the commemorative bust, life size portrait, thematic murals of U Tirot Sing, along with the naming of the ICCR Library in Dhaka as the “U Tirot Sing Library” which will tangibly contribute to permanently establishing U Tirot Sing’s reputation at an international level, and inspire many future generations.

In the run up to the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 50 years of the Liberation of Bangladesh, the Government of Meghalaya positively responded to the request of the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh to share Meghalaya’s cultural and Textile’s artifacts to be displayed at the premises of the High Commission of India in Dhaka.

The Government of Meghalaya duly handed over the cultural artifacts and unique textiles to the Assistant High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Sylhet, on 4th September, 2021. Subsequently, on May, 11th 2022, at the request of the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, and as part of the AKAM and the Swarnim Vijay Varsh, the Government of Meghalaya successfully organized and hosted a 4 day visit for a delegation of 25 Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas, deputed by the High Commission of India, who were actively involved in the 1971 Bangladeshi war.

Read: Violence in Karbi Anglong: 17 arrested from Kheroni, civil bodies call for 48 hours shutdown

Watch:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/nemediahub