A brief account of Zeliangrong movement (1920s-2015)
- Part 2 -

S Kamson *

96th Birth Anniversary of Rani Gaidinliu on 26th Jan 2011 at GM hall Imphal :: November 24 2015

Rani Gaidinliu after Her Released from Jail

Rani Gaidinliu spent her youthful life in solitude in the dark cell for almost 13 years. While enduring the agony she was thinking of her people who were tortured and harassed by the British colonial rulers. Rani Gaidinliu's petition for mercy was rejected by the Governor of Assam. The questions relating to Rani Gaidinliu were not allowed to be raised in the assembly of Assam. Such was the degree of hatred of the British authority towards the people who challenged their authority.

Meanwhile, in 1937, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited Rani Gaidinliu who was lodged in Shillong Jail. Seeing the desolate and pathetic conditions of the little young girl, Nehru was greatly shocked and he comforted her by declaring that the time will come when the nation will honour her sacrifices and release from the jail. Nehru also christened the title, 'Rani' acknowledging the spirit of Gaidinliu who dare to fight against the mighty British empire in such a tender age. He approached different high ranking individuals from within and outside India for the early release of Rani Gaidinliu.

The British Government of India feared to release Rani Gaidinliu because anti-British movement was still yet to die down in those areas. However, after much pressure from different angles Rani Gaidinliu was released from jail on 15th September, 1945 but under certain restrictions. She was secretly interned in Yimrup village of Naga Hills, now in Nagaland. However, in 1952, she defied the restriction order imposed upon her and met the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad during his maiden visit to Manipur. Her returned was warmly welcomed by the Zeliangrong people. Since then Rani Gaidinliu met many Indian leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru in 1953 in different occasions and acquainted them the problems faced by her people. During this period Rani Gaidinliu focuses were mainly on social welfare and other developmental issues.

In 1950s the movement for Naga Sovereignty under Naga National Council(NNC) pickup its momentum and soon reached the Zeliangrong country. The Zeliangrongs of Naga Hills gave their assurance to join the movement during the plebiscite on 16th May, 1951. Likewise, the Zeliangrongs from Manipur after Thinggou conference in 1957 decided to support the Naga independence movement. Many Zeliangrong youth both male and female volunteered themselves and sacrificed their lives for the cause of Naga Nation.

With the rising tide of Naga movement for sovereignty the normal life of Rani Gaidinliu was in danger again because the NNC workers misunderstood her philosophy and agendas. The NNC with the slogan of 'Nagaland for Christ' proclaimed Christianity as the sole religion of the Nagas and forced believers of Naga traditional faith to denounce it. Such religious fanatic approach of NNC directly threatened the existence of the Naga indigenous religions and culture. Under such circumstances Rani Gaidinliu who believed in secularism took up arms once again to defend her faith and culture.

She along with her followers formed the 'Zeliangrong Government' with 400 standing Army and civilian workers on 8th October, 1960 to protect, preserve and promote the reformed religion and to reintegrate the fragmented Zeliangrong areas into a single Administrative Unit (District or Union Territory) within the Indian Union. Rani Gaidinliu was never against the movement for Naga Sovereignty but the immature modus operandi of Naga underground workers that trampled ones'right to practice the faith he or she believes forced her from giving any cooperation to the Naga struggle under the banner of NNC. The NNC leaders of that time should have at least given due respect to a leader like Rani Gaidinliu who led the Zeliangrong Nagas in fighting against the British colonial power. Until now the NNC and other Naga National Workers do not understand this fundamental truth.

In fact, Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu were the leaders who first challenged the mighty British in an organized manner and it predated the Nagas' struggle under the banner of Naga National Council (NNC) which was formed only in 1946. The Naga Club was formed in 1918 to work for the common interest of the Nagas but its activities came to limelight only in 1929 when it submitted that historic Memorandum to the Simon Commission whereas, Zeliangrong movement against the British was as early as 1926-1927 with a standing army of sort collected from different villages. After the execution of Haipou Jadonang on 29th August, 1931by the British,Rani Gaidinliu continued the movement until she too was arrested in 1932 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

By early thirties A.Z. Phizo had started nurturing his dream and vision for the Naga people as a whole for an independent nation. But he was then engaged in his business and other pre-occupation. By the time the Second World War reached the Naga country, A.Z. Phizo began to engage himself more actively for the cause of his people. By early forties he was found joining hands with the anti-British forces. He went about mobilizing the Naga people to fight against the alien forces and with the formation of the Naga National Council in 1946 the Naga Struggle for freedom took a new turn along with the signing of the Nine Point Agreement in 1947 and declaration of Naga independence on 14th August, 1947. When A. Z. Phizo became the President of NNC in the year 1949 the Naga struggle for sovereign independent nation picked up high momentum.

Despite the NNC struggle for sovereignty the Naga People Convention (NPC) signed the 16th Point Agreement in 1960 with the Government of India much against the wishes of NNC. Sensing that a large chunk of Zeliangrong territory would be left behind, the Zeliangrong people decided to demand a separate State for the Zeliangrong people. In 1961, the high power NNC team led by a Kilonser, Mr. G. Nganping requested the Zelianrong leaders to give up the proposed statehood demand in the interest of the Nagas. The NNC team assured the Zeliangrong leaders that they would not allow the State of Nagaland to be formed.

However, in spite of the clear disapproval of NNC and the Naga people the NPC went ahead and inaugurated the State of Nagaland in 1963 leaving behind two-third of Naga inhabited areas excluded. True to the fear of the Zeliangrongs, two third of Zeliangrong territory and more than three fourth of its people were left outside the purview of the new State. A sense of betrayal and bitterness filled the air during this period. Meanwhile, on 14th October, 1964 the Zeliangrong leaders submitted a Memorandum to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Prime Minister of India demanding a 'Separate Zeliangrong Administrative Unit'(a common homeland) for the Zeliangrong people. By this time full scale war broke out between the Naga army and the Indian security forces until 1964 when ceasefire was declared between the two sides. Many precious lives were sacrificed at the altar of Naga freedom. Tens of thousands people were brutally assaulted, many women were raped or molested, villages burnt down, churches were turned into army camps etc.

Meanwhile, under the initiative of Nagaland Government headed by P. Shilu Ao, S.C. Dev, the Deputy Commissioner was deputed to persuade Rani Gaidinliu to come overground. In 1966, an agreement was arrived at between Rani Gaidinliu and S.C. Dev who signed on behalf of the Government of India. Since then Rani Gaidinliu decided to adopt non-violent approach to pursue the dream of her people. She went to Delhi and submitted a Memorandum to Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India on 22nd February, 1966 demanding the integration of Zeliangrong areas to form a separate Administrative Unit.

The conviction of Rani was to integrate the Zeliangrong areas into one administrative unit because she felt that formation of Nagaland State was more or less the same as that of the British policy of 'divide and rule'. The Prime Minister expressed keen desire to bring developmental programmes in Zeliangrong inhabited areas. However, regarding the political demand for separate Administrative Unit she had given the assurance to examine further and give a serious thought to the matter.

The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Dinesh Singh responding to a question raised by Shri Dharanidhor Basumatari, MP in the Lok Sabha Session of 11th April, 1966 stated that Rani Gaidinliu's demand for the integration of Zeliangrong Nagas of different units under one Administrative Unit in Nagaland was under active consideration. After getting some positive responds from the Prime Minister and Nagaland State Government Rani Gaidinliu along with her followers laid down arms on 24th September, 1966 at Tening, Nagaland.

From time to time the Zeliangrong leaders from different areas gathered and met Rani Gaidinliu at her residence in Kohima and discussed the political future of Zeliangrong people. On 18th August, 1972 Rani Gaidinliu again went to Delhi and submitted Memorandum to the Prime Minister to consider her demand. On the same day different Zeliangrong based organizations also submitted a joint Memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding the integration of Zeliangrong areas of different units.

On 1st February, 1973 she along with Zeliangrong leaders went to New Delhi again and submitted a reminder to the Prime Minister. In the Memorandum Rani Gaidinliu expressed that Zeliangrong people were still living as 'colonial subjects' of Manipur and Assam Governments. She continued that her people have been fragmented in order to keep them politically weak and leaving them to the mercies of other communities.

The Prime Minister advised Rani Gaidinliu to mobilize mass support for her demand. Therefore, RaniGaidinliu and other leaders toured the Zeliangrong inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland mobilizing the people for integration of Zeliangrong fragmented areas. They received overwhelming support from the people. Rani Gaidinliu cautioned the government that the Zeliangrong youth were restless and determined to assert their rights and any further delay to consider the genuine demand would invite unpleasant situations.

The following years the Zeliangrong leaders had convened series of conferences and discussed on the re-unification of their areas. Rani Gaidinliu also met the Prime Minister Moraji Desai on 3rd September, 1977 and expressed the Zeliangrong peoples' aspiration of living together under one Administrative Unit. The Prime Minister through the map learned the Zeliangrong inhabited areas and assured Rani Gaidinliu that he would advise the Home Minister Shri Charan Singh to look into the matter.

To build a strong mass based movement Rani Gaidinliu toured throughout the Zeliangrong areas and asked her people to join the fight for their rights. As part of the mobilization process, 'Freedom Movement Golden Jubilee' was observed on 29th December, 1977 at Tening in Nagaland in remembrance of the heroic sacrifices of Zeliangrong people for the country.

to be contd...