01The road through Nongkhlaw
After the First Anglo-Burmese War the Company wanted a road from the Brahmaputra valley across the Khasi Hills to Sylhet. David Scott, the Company’s agent, won Tirot Sing’s consent in 1827 and work began through Nongkhlaw. The Khasis soon saw soldiers and officers settling in, and heard that more troops were being brought in. In April 1829 Tirot Sing’s men attacked the British post at Nongkhlaw and two officers were killed. That began the Anglo-Khasi war.
02Four years in the hills
With swords, bows and a few muskets the Khasis fought from the forests and ridges, raiding and withdrawing into caves. The Company burned villages and brought up more troops. In January 1833 Tirot Sing was taken, wounded, and sent to Dhaka. He died there on 17 July 1835. Meghalaya keeps 17 July as U Tirot Sing Day, and a statue of him stands at Nongkhlaw. India issued a stamp in his honour in 1988.
