ZUF details Zeliangrong Movement
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 24 2023:
The Zeliangrongs are the indigenous people of mongoloid race speaking Tibeto-Burman language living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland state of North East region of India.
The Zeliangrong people share the same migratory tales with the other neighbouring Naga tribes of Nagaland and Manipur.
They have a very long history of traversing and conquering lands in every direction and have been occupying them now since time immemorial, which is unquestionably their homeland, said a release issued by Zeliangrong United Front.
Like many other ethnic communities across the globe, they have a great sense of ownership of their lands and strong attachment to their ancestral homeland, their culture, social and belief system which they zealously guarded and protected through centuries against any invading influence and enemies.
Makaam Gwangdi and Zeliangrong Homeland Movement
With the interaction of other communities like the Cacharis, Tripuris and Meiteis, the quest for a sense of protection started due to their sporadic aggressive stance taken up by these neighbouring kingdoms.
Due to the superior armies and well-organized military might of other ethnic communities especially of the local neighbouring rulers, the Zeliangrong people who were in cluster of highland villages could not match likewise militarily, and therefore, they always dreamt of a messiah, a powerful king or prince who could protect them.
Incidentally, Dihlung-Gwang @Khiatloungampu, who is among the 7 god-heads of the traditional Zeliangrong religion sent Gairiamnang of Montha village (now in Churachandpur District, Manipur) to be the Messiah of the Makaam (Zeliangrong) people.
However, Gairiamnang could not discharge his divine given tasks for which he could not become the Makaam Gwang (king of the Makaam) .
Over a century later, the Zeliangrong people continued to have entrenched interaction for trade and other socio-economic activities with diverse people's groups at different sectors of their kingdom.
Most notably, sporadic aggressions of the neighbouring communities like the Cacharis, Meiteis, Kukis and British especially southern sector with undue interferences in the village governance system, belief system, etc had led to resistance movement by the ethnic Makaam people.
Haipou Jadonang and Naga Raj
In the mid 19th century, the British arrived in the areas inhabited by the Zeliangrong people and set up their first administrative HeadQuarters at Asalu village.
Soon after their arrival, the British started interfering in the socio-cultural life of the Zeliangrong people and village governing system.
The British also started imposing house tax and forced labour besides interfering in the socio-religious affairs of the Zeliangrong people.
Blessed by the gods of Zeliangrong people, Jadonang, son of Thiudai Malangmei of Puiluanh village, Noney district, started mobilizing the Zeliangrong people to unite and fight against the oppressive British colonial forces.
He raised the famous slogan, 'Makaammeirui Gwangh Tupuni' in the backdrop of British occupation of the Makaam areas.