Meghalaya celebrates Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas, honours tribal freedom fighters

TNN / Nov 16, 2023, 08:48 IST

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Meghalaya celebrates Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas, honours tribal freedom fighters

Shillong: Along with the rest of the country, Meghalaya on Wednesday celebrated Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride) at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong, to honour tribal freedom fighters.
Floral tributes were paid at the life-size statues of U Tirot Sing, U Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Sangma. A museum, showcasing tribal cuisine, craft and culture were also set up for the function.
“As we celebrate Tribal Pride Week, we should celebrate the pride of belonging to the soil and we should keep in mind that the soil and the soul are one integral part of a tribal,” said cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh
He said one major and distinct fact that the Khasi Resistance Movement led by U Tirot Sing in 1829 was far ahead of the Great Revolution against the British rule of 1857.“We should no longer be just a footnote in history but we deserve an entire chapter of our own,” he added.

“As we celebrate our roots, origin, we should also acknowledge the son of our soil, Reverend JJM Nichols Roy who was a member of the constituent assembly and who had articulated the need of the tribal people of this region that today we have a space and capacity to protect, promote and perpetuate our interest within India,” Lyngdoh said.
Earlier in the day, chief secretary DP Wahlang flagged off a cultural procession on Tribal Pride by artists, cultural troops and cultural associations. Wahlang also flagged off vehicles carrying the message of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which will cover all the blocks of West Jaintia Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills districts.

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