Work on Gaidinliu hall halted
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy : TNN
Kohima, August 27 2015:
Construction of the Rani Gaidinliu Memorial Hall in Kohima, opposite the state secretariat complex, had come to a halt for the last few days after Naga organizations, including rebel outfits, voiced opposition.
Work on the memorial had begun a few years ago.
The Centre's commemoration of Gaidinliu, a Zeliangrong Naga from Manipur, in New Delhi on Monday further fueled anger in Christian-dominated Nagaland.
Gaindinliu was a follower of the Heraka religious movement began by her cousin Haipou Jadonang.
Many Naga leaders criticized Chief Minister TR Zeliang and the Centre for 'glorifying' Gaidinliu.
Zeliang, however, said celebrations to mark Gaidinliu's birth centenary would go beyond mere symbolism and help remove ignorance and misconceptions about the northeast.
Speaking in New Delhi on Monday, Zeliang said Gaidinliu had been ignored by writers and remained largely absent from school and college textbooks.
Leading from the front, Angami Public Organization (Apo) expressed Angami Nagas' resentment against the state government for constructing a memorial hall named after Gaidinliu.
The Angami tribe controls state capital Kohima.
President of the organization Vilhousa Seleyi said Gaidinliu's contribution to the state of Nagaland 'did in no way merit' such endowments from any institution or the government.
The Naga National Council (NNC), a rebel outfit, said Gaidinliu was a pro-Indian and anti-Naga nationalist and Zeliang's attempt to glorify Gaidinliu, who was opposed to the Naga national movement and Naga National Council, was condemnable.
The outfit added that it was not happy with the decision of the 'Government of India to prop her up as a pro-India Naga icon' .
The NNC further opposed the proposal of the state government to build a resource centre in Nagaland to promote Heraka.
"It is a mockery that VHP and RSS are supporting and trying to integrate Heraka and Hinduism though there is nothing in common between the two religious practices," NNC added.
President of Angami Youth Organization (AYO) Medo Yhokha, in a representation to governor PB Acharya, said it was perturbed by the recognition accorded to Gaidinliu and efforts by the state government to impose her legacy upon the Naga people.
By idolizing Gaidinliu, the state government was being absurd, AYO added.
It opposed the installation of any statue of Gaidinliu in and outside the proposed memorial hall.
The Kohima Village Council (KVC) opposed the move to raise a library in memory of Gaidinliu, who did not hail from Nagaland.