U Kiri Daloi and U Kiang Nangbah during Jaintia rebellion against British Force: 1860-1863

Heibormi SungohFebruary 5, 2021

Kiri Daloi Dhar was the Daloi of Shangpung Elaka (province), Jaintia Hills before independence and fought bravely against the British force on the 5th February 1862 (Raliang market day) in a village known as Shangpung. It was almost as a part of Sepoy Mutiny 1857 which ignites the minds of Indian soil.

Kiri Daloi Dhar (Kiri is his name, Daloi means Traditional Chief, and Dhar is his Title) was born in the year circa 1823 in his native place Shangpung village. He is popularly known as Kiri chaliang, because his neck is slightly tilted towards the left. (Literally chaliang means tilted). He has keen interest and love for his own religion and cultural heritage. He was elected as a Malihangot (the leader of sangots, the followers of Daloi) in the traditional institution.

After the death of Riang Daloi Shylla, the Waheh Khad ar nor (elder representatives from each clan) selected Kiri as a new Daloi of the Elaka Shangpung to take responsibility for the smooth running and functioning of the whole kingdom. The traditional system of selection of Kiri Daloi is popularly known as Thmat-thohkhyndaw. The meanings of Thmat-thohkhyndaw is the selection of any important person by using a very long chanting and finally smash the egg and read the signs of indication from egg yolk. Kiri Daloi married a very beautiful lady known as Chyndon Papang as per traditional marriage ceremony commonly known as Bia Lampah.

He took charge as the Daloi in the year circa 1852 at the age of 29 confidently. As the new Daloi, he was an able young man who had a strong feeling of patriotism in his heart and properly governed the Elaka.

There were many reasons which provoked the Jaintias to stand against the British forces; some of which included:

The house tax imposed by the British on the Jaintias in 1860.
The interference by the British in the religion and rituals of the Jaintias, such as the cremating of the dead, Behdienkhlam Festival, Pastieh Festival and many others.

In 1860 a house tax was imposed and within a few months, the people were in open rebellion. Unfortunately, a large force of troops was close at hand and before the revolt could make any headway. In Jaintia Hills, 310 persons were taxed on whom the whole amount assessed was Rs1259. The highest amount levied was Rs 9 per head and the rest Rs 5 per head.

The most burning issue of the war was the interference of the British at Pastieh of Ialong on a concluding day on the Saturday 21st April 1860 (Muchai market day) in a particular dance place known as Khliehmyntang, where shields and swords were destroyed and some shields and swords were taken away by the British.

The Shad Pastieh is a religious festival performed during late March or early in the month of April. It is performed at different altars located in Raij Yalong such as (i) Kaikso (2) Myntang (3) Kupli (4) Thanglipdang (5) Knein rapati (6) Musko Daloi (7) Blailakroh (8) Moomulang (9) Ha iung u Lyngdoh (in the Priest house) etc.

The people were suppressed but could not resist the might of the British Empire equipped with sophisticated arms. The people were irked by the ghastly behaviour of the British Empire and were totally helpless.

In Jwai the people under the leadership of U Kiang Nangbah, were actively motivating people of the different Kingdom/Elaka particularly Shangpung Elaka and motivated Kiri Daloi to take initiative a rebellion against the British Empire. Kiri Daloi convened a meeting of the neighbouring Daloi at Iawmuchai (Shangpung market) during Kupli Puja festival, late in the year 1861 where the Daloi of Elaka Mynsoo, Daloi of Elaka Raliang, Daloi of Elaka Nangphyllud and Elders of Khonchnong village under the leadership of Long Suiai and others discussed the suppression by the foreigners. Jwai people played a very active role in convening different regional Durbars to mobilize and revolt against the mighty British force.
The Jaintias held a General meeting at Madiah Kmai Blai, Syntu Ksiar on circa 15th January 1862 and unanimously elected Kiang Nangbah as the leader of Jaintia force and Kiri Daloi as the spokes person of the Jaintia Durbar, to fight against the British force for their own rights. After the General meeting was over, the Jaintias with their brave hearts began a fierce rebellion and attacked the Jowai Thana where some of the British soldiers were killed and few of them had a narrow escape.

On Monday 20th Janaury1862 Jaintia people rose in fierce rebellion. This war is popularly known as Thma Jaintia in local Pnar language (which literally means Jaintia rebellion). The wife of Kiri Daloi, Mrs Chyndon Papang narrated the consequences of agitation to Lakhma Sungoh (my grandmother), who told that after exactly two weeks from the Jaintia Durbar, “The British came here and invaded us at Raliang market day”.

The Jaintia people burnt the houses of the native Christian in Jowai on the 23rd January 1862 because they were suspected as the informers of the British and also they didn’t join the struggle against the British troops.

In Shangpung sector British troops were led by Lieutenant Colonel W. Richardson in guidance of Pator of Nangbah and Shangpung people were lead by Kiri Daloi himself. Shangpung people fought bravely against the British force with their bows, arrows and muskets to resist the British force.

As soon as Kiri Daloi received the message from his soldiers about the arrival of the enemies he went hurriedly to his residence to meet his wife and his only son named Kyrsiang Papang before he went to the battle field. But on reaching home he found that his wife was not at home and his sister in law, named Syiang Papang told Kiri Daloi that she went out to meet him and inspire him before fighting the enemies. During that moment he gave his money bag to her sister so that she will hand it over to his beloved wife but she (Syiang Papang) didn’t give the bag to his wife.

British made their stockade in the western part of Pynthor Umiurem just opposite to the stockade of Shangpung located on the hillock known as Lummukut.

The location of the wyrchakor (stockade) is along the banks of river Umiurem, a steep sloping landscape divided by this River, which flows through Shangpung village and joins Kupli River at Testar. Some of the soldiers from both the parties were wounded and even loss their lives during the battle. As per information from Mr Subor Tkhoh Suchiang he told Chyndon Papang there were eleven persons from Shangpung who were killed during the encounter and Kiri Daloi was among them.

Mr Subor Tkoh Suchiang is a right hand man of Kiri Daloi who was shot by the British soldiers in the encounter in his right knee. Kiri Daloi was shot dead in his head at Shangpung battlefield on 5th February 1862 (Raliang market day) at 3 P.M in the afternoon. After Kiri Daloi was killed, the Shangpung people’s resistance against the Britishers started losing momentum. The British troops carried the corpse of Kiri Daloi to the western side of river Umiurem for post-mortem. Since that time, that particular place was named as Kaiksang (literally means the washing away of entrails). Kiri Daloi left behind his only three month old son named as Kyrsiang Papang and his beloved wife.

Shangpung village was burnt down and the fire raged all through the night. During the incident some old aged and sick persons were burnt alive inside their houses which in-turn traumatised the people of Shangpung. The villagers along with the family of Kiri Daloi were chased out and they fled and hid themselves in the eastern part of the village known as Thlumynchong and Chahong. During their narrow escape many crying babies were thrown away, and some of them died of starvation.

The Mrs Chyndon Papang was carrying her three month baby and as she was crying her friends shouted, “Hei, Chyndon noh katu ka khon pharieh wa iam sangko, ia sniaw ka phareng i, ia tyniap ka i pathan du nei daw i iong utu u khon pho” (Chyndon throw away your son otherwise the foreigners might hear us and kill us due to your crying baby). On hearing this Chyndon replied “Ban u noh o ia u ni u khon u iongnga bha wa ieh phi nga samen ieh in iap aleh pher re, dieh phi nanglai”(it is better to leave me let me die rather than to throw my own son, please leave me alone). They left her alone and proceeded to a safe place far away from village.

Shangpung elected the nephew of Kiri Daloi as the leader to continue the battle against the British. The Shangpung warriors came out from their hide out during the night and attacked their enemies with their guerrilla tactics in their camp at Kdohkulei. The British brought the chickens from Shangpung and took those chickens at the small cave known as Ksetsyiar for their consuming.

Shangpung people were staying at Thlumynchong and Chahong jungles for some months and as a result of which the people suffered tremendously. After which the elders convened a meeting at madan Sniriang (Sniriang field) and elected U Kat Suchiang to lead and surrender in front of the British force at the base camp at Kdohkulei following which they were taken to Jowai.

During the journey to the base camp of British at Kdohkulei, Kat Suchiang and his followers carried a white flag as a symbol of capitulation to the British Force. Before reaching the camp about a stone throw, Kat Suchiang bowed many times to the British force as a sign of surrender. After an agreement the British promised to bring peace and stability in the village, but Shangpung people have to pay tax. The leader and his followers went back to their hideout and informed people to return back to their village.

Shangpung people returned back and found out all their belongings such as gold necklace, bangles, Kpeinksiar (necklace made of gold in the form of small balls and tied up together with a strong thread) were no more. Domestic animals in Shangpung, such goats, cattle went astray themselves without their own lords.

Taxation is another burden added to the tension of people which trouble them and their daily life. The poor people had to pay their taxes using their utensils, ear rings and other domestic items such rice, clothes, etc.

During the cold night of the Thursday 25th December 1862 (Thymblein market day) at 6.30 P.M British force in leadership of Lieutenant T.R Saddlier and Lieutenant E.W Walcott from Nartiang led an army to Umpara village where Kiang Nangbah and his followers had escaped. They traveled during the night time during full moon without using torchlight except in extreme cases and rested during the day.

Umpara is a small village of 12 houses inhabited by Pnar language speaking people locally known as Khyrwang, which is within 8hrs to 10 hours of walking distance from Mynser. It is located near a small village known as Rymphum village. The British force were given information by Mon Daloi of Nartiang (Bordaloi or the chief of Daloi) and his right hand man Mr Long Sutnga from Nartiang village itself. The natural route for dynamic operation to Umpara village was guided by Mr Long Sutnga. The British troop and Long Sutnga reached Umpara at 6 A.M early in the morning when almost all the people were still asleep.

The British troop found it a very difficult task to locate the exact house where Kiang Nangbah and his followers are hiding out. So the two Lieutenants sent Long Sutnga to spy out each and every house. Umpara is a small village divided by a road in the middle so; it is easy for Long Sutnga to perform the task of spying. At last Long Sutnga reached in one hut with a snoring sound of many men. Long Sutnga is a Pnar native speaker, and shouted and called the name of Kiang Nangbah and his followers. Kiang Nangbah and his followers awoke on hearing the Pnar language with a sense that it might be their own supportive people.

People inside the house responded to the request of Long Sutnga and opened the door to see him, with an exhausted mood and shivering of cold. Long Sutnga on seeing Kiang Nangbah screamed and called the British and suddenly grasped Kiang Nangbah, but he was thrown away due to the strong energy of Kiang Nangbah.

The Troop rushed to the spot and Kiang Nangbah quickly took his gun and aimed at the head of Lieutenant T.R Saddlier at very close range but the gun didn’t discharge the flames and bullets. The Lieutenant had a narrow escape in this fraction of a second and he promptly ordered his troop to fire while Kiang was picking up his sword. Kiang was shot in his hand and the British captured and forcefully tied his hands behind his back. The beloved wife of Kiang Nangbah from Challam clan and his two children also were taken along with him.

After the British force had accomplished their goal they ordered the villagers to prepare food for them, supervised by the British people. At first instant the local people rejected the order but they had to do it at the gun point. After they had eaten their launch at Umpara the British force returned back to Nartiang along with the hostages.

In the afternoon of the same day (ie 27/12/1862) the British returned back and halted at a Pnar village known as Nonglaket for a night which situated on the way to Nartiang. In the next day ie on (28/12/62) early in the morning they left Nonglaket and reach Nartiang at 8 P.M in the evening and halted at Nartiang with Mon Daloi and Long Sutnga for further work and benefit of the British.

The British handed over the wife of Kiang Nangbah and his two children (one male and one female) to Daloi Mon for care taking, but these family of Kiang Nangbah vanished away from the hand of Mon Daloi and Long Sutnga. And early in the morning of the next day (i.e. 29th December 1862), they left Nartiang and reached Jwai at 2 PM o clock in the evening. U Kiang Nangbah was brought in front of Colonel Dunford and he convicted Kiang Nangbah a final trial with a death sentence.

Jaintia Hills was betrayed by Manik Daloi Pakyntein of Jowai, Mon Daloi of Nartiang and Long Sutnga. The British Government had informed that anyone who could give information about Kiang Nangbah would receive a reward of Rs1000/- and for his follower would be Rs 500/-. This reward of Rs1000/- increased the ambition of Long Sutnga which lead to the incarceration of Kiang Nangbah.

For a week, Kiang requested Colonel H.F Dunsford to allow him to meet his wife, children, family, and other important friends, but sir Dunsford rejected his request and hanged him to death by scaffold on 30th December 1862 (Musiang market day) at 5 P.M in the evening at Úawmusiang, Jwai, Jaintia Hills, Hynniewtrepland, India. Before hanging he uttered the last words, “If my face turns towards the East- my country will be free within a hundred years and if it turns to the West – we will be slaves forever”.

In the present context of modern society,Kiri Daloi and Kiang Nangbah are an example of strong Divine faith and belief to fight against corruption and exploitation of the under privileged. They have a strong commitment and calibre to Pnar people, and as an example to consecutive future generations with a strong determination, truth and intelligibility of the mind power.

But after India got independence on 15th August 1947 those lives sacrificed for our freedom are forgotten and they are all our FORGOTTEN HEROES.