CorCom salutes Jadonang on death anniversary
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2022: The CorCom has paid rich tributes to freedom fighter Haipou Jadonang on his 91st death anniversary (August 29) .

A statement issued by the CorCom Publicity Committee pointed out that Manipur (Kangleipak) has written history of being an independent kingdom spanning over 2000 years and the Nation had a written constitution in the form of Loiyumba Shinyen as early as the 12th century.

The Anglo-Manipur Treaty signed on September 14, 1762 and the Treaty of Yandaboo signed between the British empire and Burma on February 24, 1826 are testimonials of the fact that Manipur existed as an independent Nation since very early ages.

Manipur was invaded by external forces at different points of time in history but the people of the land stood firm and defended the Nation's sovereignty.

Even as Manipur came under British occupation, people resisted the colonial rule and revolted against the colonial rulers on different occasions, the CorCom asserted.

Haipou Jadonang was one leader who fought fiercely against the British colonial rulers and worked relentlessly to unify the Zeliangrong community.

Haipou Jadonang laid the foundation for unification of Zemei, Liangmei and Rong-mei tribes who settled in Tamenglong, North Cachar and some parts of Nagaland under the banner of Zeliang-rong, it said.

Jadonang was born to Thiudai and Tabonliu in 1905 at Kambiron, Tameng-long.

The youthful days of Jadonang saw Christianity sweeping across the hill areas of Manipur at the cost of old religions.

The same period also saw the height of British oppression.

The British rulers took a large number of hill people to Europe during the First World War to employ them as either porters or forced labours, the CorCom said.

In order to free the people from colonial oppression and protect the identity and culture of the indigenous people, Jadonang resolved to fight and overthrow the British colonial rule.

He started with unification of Zeliangrong tribes.

He also launched a movement of cultural and religi- ous reformation.

Jadonang told the Zeliangrong people, "The British rulers will leave the land and there will be an independent country" .

Such activities of Jadonang became a serious challenge to the British colonial rule and they waited for the first available opportunity to arrest him.

Jadonang was first arrested in December 1928 but he was released as no concrete evidence could be produced against him.

He was again arrested on February 19, 1931 from Binakandi, Cachar on the charge of killing four Meitei betel leave traders.

Without giving any opportunity to defend himself, Jadonang was hung to death on August 29, 1931 on Nambul River bank, to the western side of Imphal Central Jail.

Contrary to the British rulers' expectation that killing Jadonang could suppress the Zeliangrong movement, the same movement spread far and wide and it grew more intense, the CorCom said.

As demonstrated by Jadonang, it is the duty of every man to protect the sovereignty and the identity of the Nation, no matter how strong the adversary forces are, it asserted.

It then called upon all the hill people and plain people to follow the footsteps of Jadonang and restore the sovereignty of Manipur (Kangleipak) .

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