AZSU urges Modi to preserve monuments of Rani Gaidinliu
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei
Tamenglong, July 25 2015 :
All Zeliangrong Students' Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) on Saturday submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India fervently pleading with him to preserve the monuments of noted freedom fighter of Manipur, Rani Gaidinliu, (Padma Bhushan and Tamrapatra Freedom Fighter Award recipients) .
The memorandum signed by Union President Pamei Tingenlung said that the grave of Rani Gaidinliu has been left desolate and forlorn at Longkao village near National Highway-37 in Tousem sub division of Tamenglong district, Manipur State since February 20, 1993 .
The funeral of Rani Gaidinliu was attended by then Governor of Manipur Chintamani Panigrahi and Home Secretary of Nagaland State and a host of other dignitaries.
She breathed her last on February 17, 1993 at her birth place after her return from Kohima in 1991 .
However, the graveyard has been ruined.
The memorandum demanded renovation of the grave and construction of a flower garden with fencing around it and a museum in the interior location.
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Pamei Tingenlung also implored the Union Government to construct a "Rani Gaidinliu Tourist Home" at "Magulong village, Tousem subdivision of Tamenglong bordering "Nzauna" of Peren district in Nagaland" and "Mount Kisha" where the Rani frequently visited during her exile period (1960-66) to sustain underground militancy and protect "Heraka" religion.
The two important sites are located at Tousem subdivision bordering Nzauna of Peren district.
Mount Kisha is the habitat of wild mithun, antelope, monkeys, vultures, etc.
The wild forest needs to be preserved and protected in view of environmental and ecological imbalances, Pamei urged the Prime Minister in the memorandum.
He also demanded a "Rani Gaidinliu Museum" at "Hangrum," a big village in North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao district) Assam.
At this village Rani Gaidinliu who led Naga Raj Movement fought a battle known as "War of Hangrum" against the British and Assam Rifles in 1931 .
Adding that at this village there is a dilapidated home where Rani Gaidinliu used to stay.
Today it is known as "Rani Gaidinliu Inspirational Home" now taken care by 18 villages of Zeliangrong Heraka.
Clothing, baskets, bed and foot-prints of Rani Gaidinliu are still there in the Inspirational Home but without proper preservation, Pamei said.
Pamei also demanded a "Rani Gaidinliu Park" with a garden of flowers at the top of Old Tamenglong Village.
"Old Tamenglong Village also reminds the glorious old British office of the SDO Tamenglong of 1915-1930 the time when the people who were taxed heavily assembled to protest against the alien rule.
The Naga Raj Movement against the British Raj centered here to drive out the foreign ruler from the soil of Naga Hills", Pamei added.