Rani Gaidinliu
Encyclopedia
Rani Gidinlieu was one of the active participants in the fight for freedom from British rule in India
. Born in Longkao village of Manipur
She joined freedom struggle at the age of 13.
She led a socio-political movement to drive out the British from Manipur
and Naga
areas.
She was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16 and imprisoned for life. She was freed in 1947 after India gained freedom.
After her release she continued to work for the uplift of her people. She organised a resistance movement against the Naga National Council (NNC)-led insurgents in 1966 and had to go underground.
She was honoured as a freedom fighter and was also awarded a Padma Bhushan
. Rani Gaidinliu died in 1993. The Government of India
issued a postal stamp in her memory.
Born on 26 January, 1915 at Longkao Village in the present Tousem Sub-division Tamenglong District, Manipur (NH-53), Her father Lothonang Pamei and mother Kachaklenliu saw their surely little daughter Gaidinliu as peculiar and different from among their other children. She was the 5th among her six sisters and a younger brother.
At the age of 13, Gaidinliu became restive and her mind was tormented as she saw the prevailing social and political condition in the western hills of Manipur under the British Regime. At this juncture, she came to meet Haipou Jadonang at Puilon (Kambiron) Village of the present Nungba Sub-division, Tamenglong District who had now emerged as the undisputed leader in the area. Influenced by the ideology and undaunted determination she became the principal follower of Haipou Jadonang that in 1927 the revolutionary movement against the British rule was started. The revolutionary movement of the western hills of Manipur popularly known by historians as Naga Raj movement received a great momentum when 100 guns were brought from Cachar, Assam and propagation was made to boycott British taxation and forced labor. But as the movement gained a zenith height to strike, Haipou Jodonang was arrested and subsequently hanged on 29 August, 1931 at Imphal jail by the Britishers.
The mantle fell on Gaidinliu to lead and continue the revolution. She went underground along with her followers. A fierce gun fighting took place at Hangrum village in the north Cachar hills with the British army and the big village was later set ablaze by the colonial soldiers. A prolonged and hot pursue took place and Rs. 500/- reward was announced for information leading to her arrest. Her people in Manipur, Cachar, North Cachar and Naga Hills
of Assam stood firm behind her.
Unfortunately, she was arrested from Poilwa (Pulomi) Village (present Nagaland) on 17 October, 1932 by the British Army led by Captain Mac Donald.
It was said that she bit the hand of a commander who tried to arrest her by which injury and pain the captor left her but after a much struggle she was finally arrested. She did not yield to the might of her captors. On seeing her on handcuff, an old man sitting at Khonoma ridiculed soldiers why a mere woman was handcuffed and asked them to take off the same as so many men could have controlled her but Cap. Mac Donald shouted “Chup/silence”. Annoyed and angry the old man pelted stones and injured some soldiers who were marching across the village on the way to Kohima. He was arrested and later released.
J.C. Higgins, Political Agent of Manipur received the brave girl as extradited by J.P. Mills, D.C. Kohima. Gaidinliu was transported for life imprisonment for waging war against the British crown. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru met her at Shillong Jail in 1937 and with great sympathy he promised to pursue her release. Pandit's statement was published in the Hindustan Times in which he described Gaidinliu as the daughter of the Hills and gave her the title of “Rani Gaidinliu” or Rani of her people. He compared her with Joan-de Arc of France and Rani Luxmi Bai of Jhansi. Pt. Nehru also wrote to Lady Aston, M.P. in London to do something for the release of Rani Gaidinliu but the Secretary to the British India Govt. flatly rejected her request stating that trouble may rise again if Rani was released. Lady Aston replied to Nehru with regret.
When India became free, Rani Gaidinliu was released on P.M. Nehru's order from Tura jail on 14-10-1947 after serving the prison term of 14 years in various jails in Guwahati
, Aizawl
, Tura
, Shillong
and elsewhere. She was however not allowed to return home at her native village in Manipur that she stayed at Vimrap Village of Tuensang
with her younger brother Marang till 1952. It was a tearful re-union of sister and brother when they could not communicate well in their mother tongue at that time. (Due to long separation of nearly 2 decades).
When Rani Gaidinliu was at her native Longkao Village in Manipur, she could not tolerate the threat to her life and religion “Heraka” posed by the Baptist based NNC movement. She went underground once again in 1960 along with her 400 followers and soldiers called “Kampai”. Many of her followers were killed at Man-du (Bandu) village near Tousem during a long encounter with NNC soldiers that she had to hide at Magulong cave near Barak (Agu) bank for 3 years.
She came overground in 1966 under an agreement with the Govt. of India. During her stay at Kohima
, she was conferred “Tamrapatra Freedom Fighter Award” in 1972, Padma Bhushan (1981), Vivekananda Seva Award (1983) and she returned to Longkao (Nungao) in 1991 till she died on 17 February 1993 at the age of 78.
The Governor of Manipur, His Excellency Chintamani Panigrahi, Home Secretary of Nagaland, Officials of Manipur and many people from all parts of the North Eastern region attended her funeral function at her native village on 29.2.1993. At Imphal, the Chief Minister of Manipur R.K. Dorendro Singh, Deputy Chief Minister, Rishang Keishing and many people paid floral tributes and a general holiday was declared by the State Government. Rani Gaidinliu was also conferred “Birsa Munda Award” Posthumously. She was an outstanding lady of Political, Social, Religious and humanitarian dimensions.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Born in Longkao village of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
She joined freedom struggle at the age of 13.
She led a socio-political movement to drive out the British from Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
and Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
areas.
She was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16 and imprisoned for life. She was freed in 1947 after India gained freedom.
After her release she continued to work for the uplift of her people. She organised a resistance movement against the Naga National Council (NNC)-led insurgents in 1966 and had to go underground.
She was honoured as a freedom fighter and was also awarded a Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
. Rani Gaidinliu died in 1993. The Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
issued a postal stamp in her memory.
Born on 26 January, 1915 at Longkao Village in the present Tousem Sub-division Tamenglong District, Manipur (NH-53), Her father Lothonang Pamei and mother Kachaklenliu saw their surely little daughter Gaidinliu as peculiar and different from among their other children. She was the 5th among her six sisters and a younger brother.
At the age of 13, Gaidinliu became restive and her mind was tormented as she saw the prevailing social and political condition in the western hills of Manipur under the British Regime. At this juncture, she came to meet Haipou Jadonang at Puilon (Kambiron) Village of the present Nungba Sub-division, Tamenglong District who had now emerged as the undisputed leader in the area. Influenced by the ideology and undaunted determination she became the principal follower of Haipou Jadonang that in 1927 the revolutionary movement against the British rule was started. The revolutionary movement of the western hills of Manipur popularly known by historians as Naga Raj movement received a great momentum when 100 guns were brought from Cachar, Assam and propagation was made to boycott British taxation and forced labor. But as the movement gained a zenith height to strike, Haipou Jodonang was arrested and subsequently hanged on 29 August, 1931 at Imphal jail by the Britishers.
The mantle fell on Gaidinliu to lead and continue the revolution. She went underground along with her followers. A fierce gun fighting took place at Hangrum village in the north Cachar hills with the British army and the big village was later set ablaze by the colonial soldiers. A prolonged and hot pursue took place and Rs. 500/- reward was announced for information leading to her arrest. Her people in Manipur, Cachar, North Cachar and Naga Hills
Naga Hills District, British India
The Naga Hills District was a former district of the Assam province of British India. Located in the Naga Hills, it was mainly inhabitated by the Naga tribes. The area is now part of the Nagaland state.- History :...
of Assam stood firm behind her.
Unfortunately, she was arrested from Poilwa (Pulomi) Village (present Nagaland) on 17 October, 1932 by the British Army led by Captain Mac Donald.
It was said that she bit the hand of a commander who tried to arrest her by which injury and pain the captor left her but after a much struggle she was finally arrested. She did not yield to the might of her captors. On seeing her on handcuff, an old man sitting at Khonoma ridiculed soldiers why a mere woman was handcuffed and asked them to take off the same as so many men could have controlled her but Cap. Mac Donald shouted “Chup/silence”. Annoyed and angry the old man pelted stones and injured some soldiers who were marching across the village on the way to Kohima. He was arrested and later released.
J.C. Higgins, Political Agent of Manipur received the brave girl as extradited by J.P. Mills, D.C. Kohima. Gaidinliu was transported for life imprisonment for waging war against the British crown. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru met her at Shillong Jail in 1937 and with great sympathy he promised to pursue her release. Pandit's statement was published in the Hindustan Times in which he described Gaidinliu as the daughter of the Hills and gave her the title of “Rani Gaidinliu” or Rani of her people. He compared her with Joan-de Arc of France and Rani Luxmi Bai of Jhansi. Pt. Nehru also wrote to Lady Aston, M.P. in London to do something for the release of Rani Gaidinliu but the Secretary to the British India Govt. flatly rejected her request stating that trouble may rise again if Rani was released. Lady Aston replied to Nehru with regret.
When India became free, Rani Gaidinliu was released on P.M. Nehru's order from Tura jail on 14-10-1947 after serving the prison term of 14 years in various jails in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Aizawl
Aizawl
Aizawl is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. With a resident population 228,280 , it is the largest city within the state. It is also the center of all important government offices, state assembly house and civil secretariat...
, Tura
Tura
-People:*Cosimo Tura , Italian painter*Will Tura , Belgian singer*Tura language-Places:*Tura Beach, New South Wales, a community in Australia*Tura, Egypt, a town in Cairo Governorate*Tura, Hungary, a city in Pest County...
, Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
and elsewhere. She was however not allowed to return home at her native village in Manipur that she stayed at Vimrap Village of Tuensang
Tuensang
Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...
with her younger brother Marang till 1952. It was a tearful re-union of sister and brother when they could not communicate well in their mother tongue at that time. (Due to long separation of nearly 2 decades).
When Rani Gaidinliu was at her native Longkao Village in Manipur, she could not tolerate the threat to her life and religion “Heraka” posed by the Baptist based NNC movement. She went underground once again in 1960 along with her 400 followers and soldiers called “Kampai”. Many of her followers were killed at Man-du (Bandu) village near Tousem during a long encounter with NNC soldiers that she had to hide at Magulong cave near Barak (Agu) bank for 3 years.
She came overground in 1966 under an agreement with the Govt. of India. During her stay at Kohima
Kohima
Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
, she was conferred “Tamrapatra Freedom Fighter Award” in 1972, Padma Bhushan (1981), Vivekananda Seva Award (1983) and she returned to Longkao (Nungao) in 1991 till she died on 17 February 1993 at the age of 78.
The Governor of Manipur, His Excellency Chintamani Panigrahi, Home Secretary of Nagaland, Officials of Manipur and many people from all parts of the North Eastern region attended her funeral function at her native village on 29.2.1993. At Imphal, the Chief Minister of Manipur R.K. Dorendro Singh, Deputy Chief Minister, Rishang Keishing and many people paid floral tributes and a general holiday was declared by the State Government. Rani Gaidinliu was also conferred “Birsa Munda Award” Posthumously. She was an outstanding lady of Political, Social, Religious and humanitarian dimensions.
See also
- Indian independence movementIndian independence movementThe term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
- NagalandNagalandNagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
- Naga peopleNaga peopleThe term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
- Irom Chanu SharmilaIrom Chanu SharmilaIrom Sharmila Chanu , also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur" or "Menghoubi" is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur...