Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Tura marked the 108th anniversary of Garo Labour Corps Day on July 16, honouring the labourers who served the Allied forces in France during World War I. The event commemorated the historic return of recruits to Tura in 1918. Organised by the Tura Municipal Board, the day began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Urban Marketing Hub in Ringrey. Personnel from the District Police and the 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion fired a salute before a two-minute silence. Fr. Januarius S. Sangma, who is the grandson of recruit Rashal Ch. Momin, led the prayers.
The ceremony moved to the District Auditorium. Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma and Housing and PHE Minister Marcuise N. Marak headlined the event. Dignitaries included Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Agarwal, SP Abraham T. Sangma, and Selsella MLA Arbinstone B. Marak. Retired official Chryslin T. Sangma recounted the history of the unit. Organisers handed out honorary mementoes to 17 descendant families.
Officials are now pushing to canonise these soldiers. Speaker Thomas A. Sangma pledged ₹2 lakh from his MLA scheme to fund heritage research. He wants the history added to school books. Current records show 500 men were selected for service, but only 456 made it to France. Currently, only 54 names appear on the cenotaph. Minister Marcuise N. Marak said he wants every soldier named on the new memorial at Babupara.
Work on the memorial is 90 per cent complete. Unrest earlier this year caused labour shortages that stalled the final stages. Marak is now seeking more state funding for the site. "I have already written to the Chief Minister, and he has agreed to sanction some funds," Marak said. The day finished with cultural performances from Harding Theological College, Bosco Mount, Rongkhon, and the Do-kaku Art & Cultural Association.
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