Remembering The Freedom Fighter From Meghalaya Who Valiantly Fought Against The Britishers

 

 

 

 

 

 

U Kiang Nangbah was a freedom fighter from Meghalaya who led an uprising against the British. He was hanged by the British publicly at Iawmusiang in Jowai town, his birthplace in West Jaintia Hills district on 30 December 1862. A postage stamp was issued by Government of India to commemorate him in 2001. A government college was also opened at Jowai in 1967 in his honour.

The history of his bravery, determination and spirit of love for the freedom of his Motherland is always remembered as a memorable Landmark in history who stood and fought against the mighty British Raj.

Kiang Nangbah, born at a time when the British had annexed the Jaintia kingdom in 1835, was distraught by the policies the British while growing up.

In spite of annexing the Jaintia Kingdom, the British refrained from interfering in the native administration for over two decades. However, when the British India government wanted to impose taxes and interfere with the local customs and traditions of the people, it led to strong anti-British feelings being developed. The people felt that this was an attempt to make them “submissive to authority” and “acknowledge the supremacy of the British government”.

During this time the Jaintia tribes had chosen Nangbah as their leader who vowed to drive the British out of their land.

In 1860, the British imposed a house tax on the Jaintias. This was when the tribals broke out in rebels under the leadership of Nangbah. It was when he gave a befitting reply “Natives do not pay taxes to the foreigners”. However, they were shunned by a large force of British troops. Later, the British also asserted their power by setting up a police station on near the cremation ground of the Dkhar clan. Religious intolerance also grew rampant with the establishment of missionary schools, and police were disrupting local festivals. The acts of the British officials made the Jaintia people rise in arms to protect their land and people.

At that point of time, U Kiang Nangbah signalled a revolt and attacked a British Thana and set fire to its arsenal. They built barricades, stockades, stored grains and manufactured weapons and firearms. Guerilla attacks with bows, arrows, swords and shields, paralysed the British Administration as the attackers would swiftly escape to the jungles of Myngkrem, Myntdu and Myntwa. To counter them, the British conducted a full-scale military operation against U Kiang Nangbah and his men.