TIROT, Lum Diengiei (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified cave is probably rather an inhabitable rock shelter or a fastness which has been associated with Tirot Singh and is also reputed to give access to an imaginary or fabulous tunnel that leads all the way underground to the village of Nongkynshi (Kynshi), some 25 km in a direct line away and approximately further WSW. ETYMOLOGY: The site is called after Tirot Singh (note 1) and specified by its location at the -lum- (hill, mountain) which itself is named after the legendary -dieng- (tree) called Ka Diengiei (note 2) or simply Ka Diengei (note 3), e.g. Diengei a poplulated place near (±1 km) 25°35'N: 91°47'E (AMS sheet NG46-10 Shillong U502 series, 1959 edition); Diengei peak (1770 m) (GSI / Geological Survey of India & KESARI, G K 2009: 2). Dieng-iei SINGH, N (1906: 68). Diengiei GURDON, P R T (1906: 160, 163-165); BAREH, H (1967 / 1997: 126); BAZELY, P J (1992 Places of Interest: 93). SITUATION 1967: At (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 126) Lum Diengiei, the hill on whichthe mythical Khasi tree Dieng-iei is reputed to have stood (note 4). SITUATION 2002: Brian D. Kharpran Daly (February 2002 personal communication) told me that the location at -Diengiei- is not correct and the cave is the Krem –>Tirot, Niangdai. CULTURAL HISTORY: A cave near Diengiei peak, still known as the Krem Tirot, the cave of Tirot Singh … [and] also called Ka Krem Khyrdop, the gate, is said to have adjoined to Kynshi [note 5] in the Nongkhlaw State [note 6] by a deep tunnel. It [Nongkhlaw, the populated place, not the cave at –>Kynshi] is located in the heart of Mylliem [note 7] where Bor Manick exercised jurisdiction. Through the tunnel communications were kept with Nongkhlaw. Tirot Singh conducted operations almost continuously from this cave until his capitulation (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 126). CAVE POTENTIAL: There are three known [or, perhaps, relatively unknown] Krem Tirot caves, at Niangdai, Diengiei and at Mairang, which are as yet unexplored. All these caves are asociated with Tirot Sing, who used them as hideouts from where he conducted his operations against the British (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2006: 35).the mythical Khasi tree Dieng-iei is reputed to have stood (note 4). SITUATION 2002: Brian D. Kharpran Daly (February 2002 personal communication) told me that the location at -Diengiei- is not correct and the cave is the Krem –>Tirot, Niangdai. CULTURAL HISTORY: A cave near Diengiei peak, still known as the Krem Tirot, the cave of Tirot Singh … [and] also called Ka Krem Khyrdop, the gate, is said to have adjoined to Kynshi [note 5] in the Nongkhlaw State [note 6] by a deep tunnel. It [Nongkhlaw, the populated place, not the cave at –>Kynshi] is located in the heart of Mylliem [note 7] where Bor Manick exercised jurisdiction. Through the tunnel communications were kept with Nongkhlaw. Tirot Singh conducted operations almost continuously from this cave until his capitulation (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 126). CAVE POTENTIAL: There are three known [or, perhaps, relatively unknown] Krem Tirot caves, at Niangdai, Diengiei and at Mairang, which are as yet unexplored. All these caves are asthe mythical Khasi tree Dieng-iei is reputed to have stood (note 4). SITUATION 2002: Brian D. Kharpran Daly (February 2002 personal communication) told me that the location at -Diengiei- is not correct and the cave is the Krem –>Tirot, Niangdai. CULTURAL HISTORY: A cave near Diengiei peak, still known as the Krem Tirot, the cave of Tirot Singh … [and] also called Ka Krem Khyrdop, the gate, is said to have adjoined to Kynshi [note 5] in the Nongkhlaw State [note 6] by a deep tunnel. It [Nongkhlaw, the populated place, not the cave at –>Kynshi] is located in the heart of Mylliem [note 7] where Bor Manick exercised jurisdiction. Through the tunnel communications were kept with Nongkhlaw. Tirot Singh conducted operations almost continuously from this cave until his capitulation (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 126). CAVE POTENTIAL: There are three known [or, perhaps, relatively unknown] Krem Tirot caves, at Niangdai, Diengiei and at Mairang, which are as yet unexplored. All these caves are asociated with Tirot Sing, who used them as hideouts from where he conducted his operations against the British (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2006: 35).