A brief account of Zeliangrong movement (1920s-2015)
- Part 3 -

S Kamson *

96th Birth Anniversary of Rani Gaidinliu :: 26 January 2011

Zeliangrong People's Convention

To further intensify the demand for Zeliangrong Homeland, the Zeliangrong People's Convention (ZPC) was formed in 1980 with a strong 60 Working Committee Members at Tamenglong under the leadership of Rani Gaidinliu. The objective of ZPC was to secure a Homeland for the Zeliangrong people by integrating the trifurcated Zeliangrong areas. ZPC was formed in the aftermath of the infamous Shillong Accord when the Naga national movement seemed to be losing sense of direction with A.Z. Phizo away to London and the NSCN also was still in formative stage.

Rani Gaidinliu being a realist and a pragmatic person opted for Homeland struggle within the Union of India because this was the only viable arrangement which could unify the Zeliangrong people again in the aftermath of the setbacks of Haipou Jadonang's untimely death and the failure of the Naga National Resistance Movement to make any headway for peace and security in the Naga country especially after the disastrous Shillong Accord in 1975.

The arbitrary trifurcation of the Zeliangrong people and their country into three different states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland without their consent is the biggest injustice committed to the indigenous Zeliangrong community by both British and the present Indian Government. Untold hardships and sufferings of the Zeliangrong people as a subaltern community (in spite of their huge potentials) in the three different political setups encouraged the ZPC Movement to reach every nook and corner of the Zeliangrong country thus, arousing their unity and solidarity.

Meetings and seminars were conducted in different parts of Zeliangrong areas to create awareness among the people on the social and political issues. ZPC Movement redefined the Makam Gwangtupuni slogan of Jadonang to Zeliangrong Ringtelou. This slogan re-ignited the unity, strength and consciousness of the Zeliangrong people to strive for a common Homeland. The ZPC leaders had submitted a Memorandum to Shri Giani Zail Singh, the Home Minister of India on 13th January, 1982 with an appeal to examine Zeliangrong problems and fulfil their demand of common homeland and set up a special commission to check the developmental activities in Zeliangrong inhabited areas of the three states.

To give more pressure, Rani Gaidinliu accompanied by I.D. Dijuanang and N.C. Zeliang met the Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi on 26th April, 1982 and submitted a Memorandum along with a map indicating Zeliangrong inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland and urged for early unification. The Prime Minister summoned the Minister in-charged of Tribal Development and enquired how he implemented the developmental works in tribal areas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland and directed him to provide whatever assistance is required to bring development in the areas.

Meanwhile, ZPC convened its 4th Conference at Tamenglong Headquarter on 30th November, 1982 and declared Zeliangrong Homeland as the political objective of Zeliangrong people. The meeting also resolved to demand a high power committee to examine and recommend the establishment of Central Development Authority (CDA) which should be established by the Government of India as an interim arrangement on the framework to be submitted by ZPC. Rani Gaidinliu and ZPC delegation submitted another Memorandum to the Prime Minister on 27th October, 1983 attaching the Tamenglong Declaration i.e. 'Zeliangrong Homeland' as the political objective of Zeliangrong People.

The Prime Minister expressed her difficulty given the prevailing situations but also expressed her utmost concern towards the Zeliangrong problems and shared that her sympathy was always with them. While appreciating the difficulties, the ZPC leaders urged the Prime Minister to constitute the CDA at the earliest by the Government of India to implement development programmes in Zeliangrong areas as an interim measure. When the ZPC leaders pointed out that the Prime Minister's perception of the Zeliangrong problem seem to be more of economic orientation, the Prime Minister summarily replied, 'Yours is a political problem.' She agreed the presentation of ZPC and advised for further discussion in both official and political levels.

Meanwhile, the ZPC observed Zeliangrong Solidarity Day on 30th November, 1983 throughout the entire Zeliangrong areas and reaffirmed their political objective of Zeliangrong Homeland. The ZPC and the Government of India held second round of high-level discussion on 29th December, 1983 at Calcutta during the 77th Plenary Session of Indian National Congress. During the talk the Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi assured ZPC leaders that 'Anything short of Zeliangrong State/Homeland' could be arranged and she appealed to the Zeliangrong people to extend cooperation while dealing with the problem.

Rani Gaidinliu assured to cooperate in all possible ways and also reminded the Prime Minister that she will not stop till her lifelong cherished dream of Zeliangrong Homeland is achieved. The ZPC leaders never got the chance to meet the Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi again because on 31st October, 1984 she was assassinated. The proposed next round of talks was eclipsed by the tragedy and it was an immense setback for the Zeliangrong people .

However, in 1984 Shri Rajiv Gandhi became the sixth Prime Minister of India. Rani Gaidinliu's request to meet the Prime Minister was granted and this provided ZPC leaders the opportunity to continue the movement. After hearing the problems from the ZPC delegation Shri Rajiv Gandhi entrusted the PMO to look into the matter. Soon the parley took place and as a result the Planning Commission guided by North Eastern Council (NEC) was authorized to study the developmental problems in Zeliangrong areas.

In 1985, the fact finding team of NEC landed in Tamenglong and visited all Zeliangrong inhabited areas, interacted with public leaders and concerned authorities. The officials discovered the necessity of developmental programmes such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, handloom and handicraft, drinking water supply, education and medical care. The officials also suggested for immediate steps like agricultural extension, plantation of cash crops, composite animal husbandry, micro hydel cum irrigation project, road construction and establishment of educational institutions (University & Colleges) and other related facilities.

The ZPC leaders during their meeting with the Union Home Minister Shri Buta Singh at his Ashoka Road residence on 16th August, 1986 were given assurance of integrating the Zeliangrong people into a single Union Territory.

The assurance of the Home Minister was welcomed by ZPC leaders and declared to the general public during its meeting on 7th September, 1986. Thus, the ZPC movement for a separate Zeliangrong State was boost up with the assurance of the Home Minster. However, this assurance did not see the light of the day until now.

In February 1987 during the follow up discussion the Prime Minister and the Home Minister gave more emphasized on socio-economic and cultural development programmes. With the advised of the Home Minister, the ZPC leaders had discussion with Home Ministry officials on 17th February on the CDA which was first propounded by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. On 18th February the ZPC had submitted certain principles on the structures of CDA and proposed Zeliangrong Regional Development Authority (ZRDA)as the name of governing body.

The ZPC after much thought geared up for the CDA because they need some temporary or interim arrangement before the final solution. The ZPC delegation met the Prime Minister again on 21st February, 1987 and Rani Gaidinliu directly pleaded for Zeliangrong State. In response, the Prime Minister categorised the ZPC's demand into three parts i.e. Development Demand, Cultural Demand and Political Demand. The Prime Minister declared that Development and Cultural Demands would be considered instantly but at the moment it was difficult for the Government to consider the Political Demand. The Prime Minister asked the ZPC leaders to accept the developmental arrangements for time being. Rani Gaidinliu acknowledged the difficulties of the Prime Minister, but reminded him that Zeliangrong State/Homeland demand would never be given up at any cost.

Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong people observed Zeliangrong Homeland Prayer Day on 3rd May, 1987 and urged the general public to observe fasting and prayer for the success of the political demand. Another Prayer Day was observed on 20th September, 1987 again seeking the intervention of Heavenly God which was followed by bandh on 21st September demanding an early political solution. The ZPC convened another meeting on 20th November, 1987 and reaffirmed their demand and proposed to call the impending state as Zeliangrong Ram.

Even though the Central Government sent directives to the state governments to take up immediate developmental works in the Zeliangrong areas no concrete steps were taken up by the concerned states. Seeing that there was no positive change ZPC leaders intensified the movement. Forty (40) delegates including Rani Gaidinliu went to New Delhi to pressurize the Central leaders. They submitted a Memorandum to the Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi at his residence on 2nd February, 1988. On 3rd February, 1988 the ZPC delegation along with Zeliangrong Students of Delhi organized a dharna at Boat Club to draw the attention of Centre.

ZPC leaders also met the Home Minister Shri Buta Singh who assured development package for Zeliangrong people. After a series of consultative meetings with the Central leaders a high powered Committee was set up represented by Secretary (NEC), Additional Secretary (MHA), Advisor (State Plans) and the Commissioner of Schedule Tribes to find a tangible answer to the Zeliangrong problems .However, due to the non-seriousness of the state governments the Committee could not proceed further as per the expectation.

To give more pressure to the Government, the ZPC along with Zeliangrong Students Union, Women Organizations and Youth Front called two-day bandh from 19th to 20th July, 1988. The ZPC leaders also began to worry about the restlessness of the general public especially the youth. They feared that the peaceful movement might go astray. ZPC called another five-day bandh from 20th-24th April, 1989 to draw the attention of the Central Government. During the bandh hundreds of ZPC volunteers were arrested, tortured and sent to jails by the state governments.

The ZPC leaders camped at New Delhi for 28 days and they finally got a chance to meet the Prime Minister to resume the talks on 5th October, 1989. The ZPC leaders and Zeliangrong public were frustrated seeing the non-serious approach of the Central leaders in fulfilling their earlier assurances. In this regard, Rani Gaidinliu stated that, "I believe India is a great nation, magnanimous enough to accommodate the aspiration of a small ethnic group like the Zeliangrong people."

The restless Zeliangrong youth at the meeting of 23rd September, 1990 at Kohima demanded the ZPC leaders of giving them free hand in carrying out any plan to pressurize the Centre for early solution of their demand. However, the meeting resolved that any decision on the demand of ZPC Youth Front would be taken up only after meeting the Prime Minister and other Central leaders. The ZPC demand for statehood became more uncertain when Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during the election campaign at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on 21st May, 1991 with whom and under whose leadership ZPC had maximum parleys to find an amicable solution to the Zeliangrong problems.

to be contd...