New book highlights Khasi community's overlooked role in 1971 Liberation War

A new book highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of the Khasi community during the 1971 Liberation War was officially launched at a ceremony today (30 January).

Titled 'The Khasis in the Liberation of Bangladesh', the book is authored by Indian lawyer and researcher Daniel Stone Lyngdoh and published with the support of the Department of Arts and Culture of the Government of Meghalaya.

Chief guest Sanjeev Drong praised the author for his efforts to document the history of an indigenous community's role in a neighbouring country's liberation struggle.

"If a nation does not practise knowledge and history, it cannot become a dignified nation," he said. "The contributions of indigenous peoples to the Liberation War must be written and properly documented."

Describing the book as the outcome of a three-year research journey, Lyngdoh said he travelled to every Khasi village in Bangladesh and conducted archival research in Kolkata to piece together a history that has largely remained undocumented.

"The Khasis, along with other indigenous communities, should be recognised here in Bangladesh because we are part of the Liberation War," he said.

Lyngdoh noted that mainstream historical records often omit indigenous narratives. Through his research, he identified specific Khasi freedom fighters and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh's independence.

He mentioned noted freedom fighter Kakon Bibi and said there were at least eight other Khasi freedom fighters whose contributions have gone largely unrecorded in mainstream history.

Human rights activist Trijinad Chakma highlighted the broader geopolitical context of indigenous struggles, noting that before the Partition of 1947, communities such as the Khasis, Garos and Chakmas lived within a unified geographical landscape, which was later divided by borders.

Despite their active participation in the Liberation War alongside their Bengali counterparts, indigenous communities continue to face a culture of non-recognition in national politics and historical narratives, he said.

Trijinad also pointed to the current marginalisation of the Khasi community in Sylhet, particularly in relation to land rights and access to education.

The event was also addressed by Andrew Joel Sohlamar, organising secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum; independent researcher and writer Eshita Dastider; and Toni Chiran, president of the Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum, who joined the programme virtually from the United States.

The speakers collectively said the book is not merely a compilation of pages, but an important step towards correcting historical omissions and acknowledging the diverse fabric of Bangladesh's independence struggle.