Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Tura marked the 108th Garo Labour Corps Day on July 16. The event honored local men who served Allied forces in France during World War I. These volunteers returned to Tura on July 16, 1918. Their return remains a symbol of resilience. The commemoration began at the Urban Marketing Hub in Ringrey. Dignitaries laid wreaths at a temporary cenotaph. District Police and the 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion fired a salute. The crowd observed two minutes of silence. Fr. Januarius S. Sangma led the opening prayer.
Events moved to the District Auditorium later that day. Speaker Thomas A. Sangma served as chief guest. Housing and Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N. Marak attended as guest of honor. Other officials included J.D. Sangma, Vibhor Agarwal, Abraham T. Sangma, and Arbinstone B. Marak. Retired officer Chryslin T. Sangma detailed the unit's wartime journey. The committee honored 17 descendant families with mementos. Fr. Januarius S. Sangma, grandson of recruit Rashal Ch. Momin, shared his family's history.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma urged students to study this history. He proposed adding the corps' service to school curricula. He also gave ₹2 lakh from his MLA scheme to fund research. Minister Marcuise N. Marak reported that 500 men were originally selected. Only 456 reached France. Today, the local cenotaph lists only 54 names.
The state aims to correct the record. A research subcommittee is now tracking down all identified soldiers. These names will go onto a new war memorial and museum in Babupara. Construction is 90 percent finished. Unrest delayed the project earlier this year. Marak seeks state funding to finish the site. "I have already written to the Chief Minister, and he has agreed to sanction some funds," the minister noted. The day concluded with performances by students and local artistes.
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