2023-01-11 Wed

U Kiang Nongbah was a renowned independence warrior from the Jaintia hills of Meghalaya who lived and fought his epic battle against the British during the First War of Independence (1857) and beyond. The Department of Posts recently published a commemorative stamp on him.

His spirit of revolt was ignited even as a young boy by the questionable tactics the British's used to acquire Jaintia. As he got older, his zeal to expel the alien invaders from his country overtook him. He quickly understood that, to defeat the British military's formidable military machine, a disciplined combat army was required.

He received a chance when he was chosen to command a group of headmen, and he later led the struggle to liberate Jaintia from the British. By setting up ambushes, Kiang Nongbah and his soldiers used guerrilla warfare to humiliate the British forces' superior manpower and equipment.

In one of the deadliest clashes, Kiang suffered serious injuries. While he was recovering, the British seized him. He was executed on December 30, 1862.

Image Courtesy: colnect.com