SILCHAR, Aug 8: At the initiative of Historical Monument Preservation Committee, the Project Director of ITDP and Officer In-charge of Cultural Centre here moved the Assam Rifles (AR) for reinstallation of an important monument erected by the then Surma Valley Light Horse, the parent body of present Assam Rifles, in honour and memory of Lt Col Eden Currie Showers. Accordingly, Assam Rifles has reinstalled the monument on its premises here recently in order to preserve an important chapter of British History in India.
According to historical records, Lt Col Showers was the Commandant of Surma Valley Light Horse who died in the African Boer War on April 30, 1900 at Houtnek, South Africa. The inscription in the monument read “To the memory of Lt Col Eden Currie Showers, late Commandant Surma Valley Light Horse killed in action in South African Boer War- erected by the members of his Corps”. The monument was installed near the present Devdoot Cinema Hall of this town which was dismantled by the Silchar Municipal Board for carrying out expansion of the road. It was then shifted to the backyard of District Library which lay in ruins without any care and protection.
On the occasion of reinstallation of the monument on the premises of 2 MGAR, Assam Rifles, were present Lt Col RS Khetri, Commandant, UK Pandey, Assistant Commandant, HR Sati, Adjutant Sub Major, Saral Chandra Paul, president of the Historical Monument Preservation Committee and its secretary Partha Pratin Das as well as others interested in British History. (SENTINELASSAM)