Commissioning of Coast Guard ship 'Rani Gaidinliu' on Oct 19, 2016 at Vishakhapatnam

Speech by Gaikhangam, Dy CM, Manipur *

Indian Coast Guard's Rani Gaidinliu commissioned on Oct 19, 2016 at Vishakhapatnam :: Pix - TSE

Shri Rajendra Singh, FTM, TM Director General of Indian Coast Guard, Dr J Suresh Babu, IAS Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur, Additional Director General Shri VSR Murthy, PTM, TM and other officers from Indian Coast Guard, Distinguished invitees, Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is indeed a memorable day in the history of India as the Indian Coast Guard ship is named after our great freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu. I feel privileged to attend in this historic moment of commissioning of the coast guard ship which has been named after Rani Gaidinliu.

It is a great tribute paid by the Indian Coast Guard and the Government of India to our beloved freedom fighter by naming the ship in her name.

It is a moment of elation for the people of Manipur as the sacrifice made by our leader Rani Gaidinliu is acknowledged and the Coast Guard ship is named after her which will be remembered in the history forever.

Let me express our sincere gratitude to the Indian Coast Guard for this historic decision. I on behalf of the people of Manipur, the Hon'ble Chief Minister and on my behalf thank the Indian Coast Guard and the Government of India for honouring the Manipuri people.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Rani Gaidinliu is a legendary freedom fighter who was born on 26th January 1915 in Nungkao village in Tamenglong district of Manipur, which was a former Princely state.

From the childhood Gaidinliu showed extraordinary qualities and talents. She was always independent, determined and courageous in whatever she did. Gaidinliu played active role in reformation of the Zeliangrong religion and abolition of taboos.

Young Gaidinliu opposed to the oppressive rule of the British, particularly the forced labour imposed en the poor villagers.

Rani Gaidinliu took up the leadership of rebellion movement against British in Manipur and Assam. The rebellion was so aggressive, which forced the then Governor General in Council of Assam to order a military operation against her.

The forces from 3rd and 4th Assam Rifles were used for this operation and she was arrested on 17th October 1932 at the age of 17 years.

Mr Higgins, the then Political Agent of Manipur sentenced her to life imprisonment. In spite of efforts made by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to release her from Jail, British government refused to release her.

She was released from Jail only after India attained independence in 1947, after spending nearly 15 years in jail by the first Prime Minister of free India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and conferred the title "Rani".

The veteran freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu was awarded the Tamrapatra" in 1972 for her role in freedom struggle. She was awarded the "Padma Bhusan* in 1982, the "Vivekananda Sewa Suman" was also awarded to her in 1983.

The Govt. of India instituted the award called "Stree Shakti Puraskar" in honour of five imminent women of India including Rani Gaidinliu.

The Government of India issued a commemorative Postal Stamp of Rani Gaidinliu in 1996 and a commemorative Rs 100 and Rs. 10 coins to commemorate her birth centenary in 2015.

Rani Gaidinliu passed away on 17th February, 1993 and the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Puraskar was conferred on her in 1996 posthumously.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am indeed feeling proud to be a Manipuri and cherished every moment of this ceremony. I once again thank the Director General and his officers for giving this honour of gracing this occasion.