Shillong, August 17: In a first, The North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong felicitated Dr. Kestonbel Manik Syiemlieh, Deputy Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, Mairang, and the fifth generation descendent of Great Freedom fighter of Meghalaya U Tirot Sing Syiem during the Independence Day celebration.
The Deputy Syiem was invited as the Chief Guest at the Independence Day celebration in the University which marks the first time, the University has paid respect and honour to the great freedom fighter of the state.
The celebration started with unfurling of the National flag by Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of NEHU and Dr. Kestonbel Manik Syiemlieh followed by singing of the National Anthem.
The celebration was attended by the staff, students and the family members of the NEHU community. In his Independence Day address, Prof. Shukla presenting the speech in Khasi, Hindi and English elaborated on the importance of freedom and why we should be celebrate it with full conviction and enthusiasm.
While speaking he mentioned “If we put aside our religious beliefs and think of ourselves as simply human and having taken birth in this great nation, then we have only religion and that is patriotism and we will have only one religious holiday that is Independence Day”.
Speaking about the sacrifices our freedom fighters gave, he said “If we are celebrating Independence Day today, then it is only the result if this Unity which fought together against the British.
Today on the occasion of Independence Day, We pay our homage and tribute the free fighters and heroes who fought in unison against the British Raj”. He particularly mentioned the sacrifices of the unsung heroes of the North-East India particularly Meghalaya.
“The struggle for independence started in the year 1857 with the freedom fighters and revolutionaries fighting against the British all over the country, sacrificing their lives for us.However, as the citizens of North-East India, how many of us know about the sacrifices of the freedom fighters from this part of the country” he said.
He mentioned that our very own hero U Tirot Sing Syiem is one such unsung Hero whose name we rarely find in the history books of Freedom Struggle. Same can be said about U Kiang Nang Bah from the Jaintia Hills and Patogan Sangma from the Garo Hills”.
The Vice-Chancellor also mentioned the contribution of the freedom fighters from the neighbouring states of Meghalaya like Gomdhar Konwar, Maniram Dewan, Madhu Malik, Urbidhar Barua, Mahidhar Sarma, Madhuram Koch from Assam, Maharaj Kulchandra, the king of Manipur and Manipuri Warrior Tikendrajit from Manipur.
The Angamis Nagas and the Lushais of Mizoram. Dr. Kestonbel Manik Syiemlieh, Deputy Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, Mairang, the fifth generation descendent of Great Freedom fighter of Meghalaya, who attended the celebration as the Chief Guest, thanked the University for inviting him as the Chief Guest.
He mentioned that he was very happy the Freedom Fighters from North-East region particularly his ancestor, U Tirot Sing Syiem were being remembered by the University fraternity.
The Deputy Syiem “He was glad to hear the names of the unsung heroes of North-East who gave up their lives for us and not always mentioned in any events or books”.
He appealed to the people to work in unity for the upliftment of the society, the state and the nation as a whole. He particularly spoke about the valour of his ancestor U Tirot Sing Syiem on how he lived his life and sacrifices he made for the nation. He encouraged the youth of the University to learn from the lives of these freedom fighters like the people of Hima Nongkhlaw.
