The Khasi uprising took place in 1833 in the territory between the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, in protest of a planned British road through the area. Tirot Sing Syiem was the uprising’s leader. In this fight, the Khasis were beaten, and the British took control of these highlands.
Khasi Uprising – Background
- The East India Company sought to create a route connecting the Brahmaputra Valley and Sylhet after occupying the steep terrain between the Garo and Jaintia Hills.
- A considerable number of outsiders, including Englishmen, Bengalis, and plains labourers, were imported to these regions for this purpose.
- Under Tirot Sing’s leadership, the Khasis, Garos, Khamptis, and Singphos banded together to drive out the outsiders from the plains.
- The movement grew into a widespread uprising against British administration in the region.
- By 1833, the insurrection had been put down by the overwhelming English military force.
Khasi Uprising
- The Khasis, a primitive tribe living in Assam’s mountainous territory between the Jaintia and Garo hills, revolted against British rule.
- Tirot Sing led a coalition of chiefs from several Khasi hills kingdoms.
- The Khasi uprising occurred in 1833 in the areas between the Khasi hills and the Jaintia Hills.
- The British planned to build a route that would run across Khasi leaders’ territories. It irritated the Khasis.
- When the British began constructing the road and forced Khasis to serve as laborers, over thirty Khasi leaders planned to drive the British out of Assam’s hills and plains.
- The rebellion began with Tirot Sing’s attack on a British force that disregarded the Khasi king’s instructions to halt a road construction project through the Khasi Hills.
- The Khasis were beaten in this fight, and the British took control of these highlands.
- The head of the Molim tribe, Bar-Manik, became their leader. Other chiefs, notably the head of Nunklows, Tirot Sing, backed him up.
- The tribes revolted in May 1829 and fought for over four years against the British.
- The British mercilessly quashed the insurrection, imposed an economic embargo on Khasi land, and burned down Khasi villages.
Conclusion
The Khasis, a tribe inhabiting the hilly region in the northwest on the border of Assam revolted against the British. The Khasi rebellion occurred in 1833 in the land between the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, in protest of a planned British route across the area. The insurrection was led by Tirot Sing Syiem. The Khasis were defeated in this battle, and the British acquired control of the highlands.
