Garo Heritage Committee takes key decisions in first meet
Tura, April 16: The first meeting of the Committee set up to preserve Garo culture and heritage has had a positive discussion at Tura circuit house on Tuesday clearing out any confusion and taking key decisions- including a unanimous agreement to ensure the Cenotaph to be set up in memory of the First World War Garo Labour Corps remains in the original location.
“There will be no shifting of the Cenotaph from its original place, but a temporary one will be erected for the upcoming observance of the Garo Labour Corps Day on July 16th,” announced Meghalaya Minister for PHE etc, Marcuise Marak, after the meeting. He said that local architect, Silchi Marak, has been invited to the next meeting to present a power-point design for the temporary structure.
A crucial missing link- the names of all the men who went to France (close to five hundred), is finally going to see light as the Committee has decided to move the government to identify all those whose names were left out when the original inscription was made, a hundred years ago.
“Out of more than 1000 recruits 500 were deemed fit, but only around 400 plus went to France. But many of the names are missing from the cenotaph. The committee has decided to move the government to research this issue and gather the names of those left out so that every Corp member has his name honoured on the cenotaph,” said Minister Marcuise Marak.
The Committee, headed by Meghalaya Minister Marcuise Marak, was set up in the wake of the dismantling of the century old original Cenotaph at Babupara, Tura, by the Tura Municipal Board that sparked widespread condemnation from across the Garo Hills.
Shocked and angry over the demolition of the original memorial structure, the Committee has decided to move the state government to initiate an enquiry over the dismantling of the Cenotaph.
The committee consists of several Garo intellectuals, historians, cultural experts, religious heads and members of civil society drawn together to ensure the redevelopment of the memorial site with a befitting tribute for the several hundred Garo men who left their homeland to head to France to help the allied forces at the frontlines during the first great war.
In a move aimed at encouraging citizens, particularly children and students, to be aware of the significance of historical events relating to Garo Hills and the Garo community, the Committee has decided to seek the establishment of a cultural museum to ensure history is not forgotten.
During the meeting it was suggested to establish a Museum or Gallery on government-owned land close to the memorial site- possibly at the old circuit house or the former premises of the Tura Public School.
The museum or gallery to come up would also display souvenir weapons, for which committee members proposed waiving charges on weapons gifted as souvenirs, considering their cultural significance.
Members also took note of encroachments on the original plot’s boundaries which has shrunk the size of the land where the monument is due to come up. The committee has resolved to request the government to intervene and reclaim the land.
To prevent further erosion and protect nearby residents, an immediate construction of a retaining wall was approved at the meet.
The committee is due to reconvene on the 30th of this month for further discussions.
