'Phan Nonglait', the first Khasi freedom fighter

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, April 16: When the me ‘Phan Nonglait’ is mentioned, many people will recollect and remember what was taught to them in their school text book, about the first female Khasi freedom fighter who fought bravely against the British during the time of U Tirot Sing Syiem (1829-33).

Phan Nonglait is from Rymmai village, which falls under Hima Nongkhlaw and several of her descendents still lives in the village till these days.

The female Khasi freedom fighter had only one daughter mely Shaimon and she gave birth to two girls mely Lashermon and Lakermon, however Lashermon had only male children but Lakermon had a daughter Mislinda Nonglait and from her came Macdelene Nonglait.

A descendent of ‘Phan Nonglait’, Danielstone L.Nonglait while rrating the story behind the waterfall located at Nongrmai, West Khasi Hills District med after the bold and beautiful warrior, Phan Nonglait — ‘Phan Nonglait Falls’ informed that as British soldiers started to move out of Mairang village and headed for Nongkhlaw, soldiers of Tirot Sing heard the news and later set a trap for the British soldiers at  Langstiehrim, as because of the heat of day the soldiers will rest near the waterfall.

He further rrated that the brave Phan Nonglait made the soldiers of Tirot Sing wait in the shadows as she would seduce the British soldier rest at the waterfall with drinks and taking away all the arms and weapons to throw under the rock hole of the fall and later let the soldier of Tirot Sing capture them easily.

The Phan Nonglait Falls with its milky white cascade is located approximately 10kms from Mairang, the headquarters of Mairang sub-division.

“Phan Nonglait hid all the arms and weapons of the British soldiers and threw them under a rock hole of the waterfall which is still present till today,” Daniel said.

The Lyngdoh Nonglait clan till this day has been preserving the basic daily utensils and the house of Phan Nonglait so that the present generation will be able to witness for themselves the remaining remnts of the female Khasi freedom fighter ‘Phan Nonglait’. Soon the Lyngdoh Nonglait clan will release a book on the life of Phan Nonglait titled ‘Life and Work of PhanNonglait struggle for freedom’ written by Danielstone Lyngdoh Nonglait.