CorCom salutes Haipou Jadonang
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 27 2022:
On the occasion of 91st death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang, which falls on August 29, Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of underground groups operating in Manipur, has paid full revolutionary honour and salute to the great patriot who fought the colonial British for the freedom of the suppressed people.
According to a CorCom statement, today's Manipur (Kangleipak) has not only 2000 years of written and 5000 years of unwritten history but also had its own constitution named Loiyumba Shinyen since the reign of king Loiyumba in 12AD.The sovereign status of Manipur (Kangleipak) since the early period has been testified clearly with the signing of Anglo-Manipuri Treaty on September 14, 1762 with the British and the Treaty of Yandaboo signed between the British and Burma (now Myanmar) on February 24, 1826 .
In different phases of history, indigenous communities settling in Manipur (Kangleipak) fought together against alien invaders to keep intact sovereignty of the land.
Among the alien invaders, it was the British who ruled Manipur (Kangleipak) for a long time but freedom loving people of the land revolted against the British from time to time.
However, a unified history of those revolts could not be made till date owing to wrong or sectarian recording by historians who have colonial habit.
Though all the indigenous communities settling in Manipur (Kangleipak) since time immemorial have different names, written history and folktales have proven common origin of all the indigenous communities of the land.
According to the CorCom, Haipou Jadonang was one among many patriots who fought against British colonial ruler and tried to bring unity among Zeliangrong people.
The coming of Haipou Jadonang's 91st death anniversary renews the role the great patriot shouldered for the unity of Zeliangrong people.
In 1927, Jadonang tried to unify smaller Zemei, Liangmei and Rongmei communities settling in Tamenglong, North Cachar and some parts of Nagaland and set the foundation for a political power for the unified Zeliangrong people.
The statement issued by CorCom publicity committee further said that Haipou Jadonang was born as the second son of Thuidai and Tabonliu of Kambiron village in Tamenglong in 1905 and grew up as a courageous and patriotic person.
He stood against torture of innocent civilians in the hills, forced labour, house tax imposed by the then colonial British.
His firm stand against violation of human rights progressed into a collective movement for the Zeliangrong people to free from the yoke of colonial British ruler.
Jadonang began his movement with a cultural/religious revolution which gradually progressed into a movement to drive out imperialist British from the land.
Soon, the British took serious note of Jadonang's movement and began to look for him.
On the charge of challenging British order, Jadonang was arrested by the then SDO of North West Sub Division, Tamenglong SJ Duncan in 1928 and lodged in Tamenglong jail for one week.
However, Jadonang continued his movement after coming out from jail and initiated several programmes to drive out British through religious and cultural movement.
Jadonang was finally arrested from Binakandi (Cachar) on February 19,1928 on the charge of killing four Meetei betel-leaf traders at Kambiron.
He was then brought to Imphal on March 29, 1931 and sent to jail and hanged till death in early morning of August 29,1931 at the age of just 26 years, the CorCom statement recalled, while extending revolutionary salute to Jadonang.
The CorCom statement further said tribute to the legendary Zeliangrong leader would be meaningful when people work to fulfil what the late patriot had wanted and significance of his movement against the British and the supreme sacrifice he made for his motherland are becoming clearer among future generation.
While reminding that the movement launched by Jadonang instilled the spirit of patriotism among people, the outfit called upon people of both hills and valley of Manipur to follow the path chosen by courageous forefathers of the land like Jadonang to defeat India and restore sovereign status of Manipur.
Comment
