Ideals of Rani Gaidinliu extolled on her birth anniv
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 27 2022: Zeliangrong Civil Organisa-tions (ZCOs), comprising Zelian-grong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students' Union, celebrated the 107th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu at Sangaiprou Village Com-munity Hall, here on Wednesday.The event was attended by Titus Kamei, vice president of Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur & Naga-land); Poupoklung Kamei, president Zeliangrong Baudi (Manipur State Unit); M Lunglailung, president of Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland); Kadilin Gang-mei, former chairman Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur; Ash-inpou Gangmei, former chairman Committee for Alternative Arrange-ment and former general secre-tary UNC; Irabot Gonmei, general secretary of All Zeliangrong Arts & Cultural Organisation, as presidium members.

The programme was also attended by village elders, women leaders, various civil society organ-isation leaders, youth and student leaders, former Zeliangrong organ-isations' leaders and well wishers.

During the observance, Ashinpou Gangmei elaborated on the life and struggle of Rani Gaidinliu and re-minded the gathering of late prof Gangmumei Kamei's thoughts on "Rani Maa" which stated "Her life was her mission" and also how for-mer Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru met her and gave her the title "Rani".

Rani Maa spent 14 years of her life in different jails.

She struggled for the Independence of India as well as to secure the future of Zeliangrong people post India's independence.

She was honoured with different prestigious awards such as Tamra-patra in 1972, Padma Bhusan in 1982, Swami Vivekananda Puriskar in 1987 and Birsa Munda (posthumously) in 1996 .

The government of India also honoured her with commemorative coins, postal stamps, Coast Guard Patrol vessels, Stree Shakti Puriskar award, etc., in recognition of her selfless service and contribution towards the freedom movement.

Her movement spread across Ze-liangrong territories of Assam, Ma-nipur and Nagaland.

She was born at Luangkao village in Manipur but her movement spread widely and gained maximum support of Zelian-grong people of Assam and Nagaland, Ashinpou continued.He also reminded the gathering of Jawaharlal Nehru, who once re-marked, "A day will come when India will remember her (Rani Maa) and cherish her" .

Kadilin Gangmei spoke about the need for unity and integrity among Zeliangrong people, stating that Rani Gaidinliu focussed on a collec-tive future for Zeliangrong people and appealed to the gathering to emulate Rani Maa's ideals, while Erabot Gonmei spoke on the urgent need to shun temporary differences among some individuals if they are really concern for the progress of Zeliangrong people.

Titus Kamei mainly dwelt on the present situation and position of Ze-liangrong people particularly those living in the state of Manipur.

He said that Zeliangrong people are scattered in around 30 assembly constituencies.

Apart from Zelian-grong-dominated three Legislative assembly constituencies in Tamen-glong district, Zeliangrong people's votes are very important and also a deciding factor while choosing the right candidate to represent the people in other hill districts.

Zeliangrong people live in about 22 assembly constituencies in Manipur valley where votes of Zeliangrong people are very important and a deciding factor in almost all these 22 constituencies, he said."Zeliangrong is the second largest community, next to Meitei, in Mani-pur.

Therefore, Zeliangrong people should exercise their democratic rights of universal adult franchise with wisdom so as to bring devel-opment and social progress.

Nobody has the chance to vote for 20 times in one's lifetime if not due to frequent mid-term polls or for some lucky people who live 100 plus years.

It may not be wise to waste our pre-cious vote if we want development and change," Titus Kamei added.He also urged Zeliangrong people to know why Rani Gaidinliu want-ed to unite Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland by spearheading the movement of "Ze-liangrong People Convention" (ZPC).

On behalf of Zeliangrong people, ZCOs, thanked the government of India and the state government for the Prime Minister's ambitious mega project "museum cum library" in recognition of Rani Gaidinliu, to be set up at Luangkao village, Tamen-glong district, the native village of Rani Maa, following strong objection raised by ZCOs against the state government's earlier plan to set up the said museum in Senapati district.

"It is the expectation of Zelian-grong people that the construction work of the said museum starts im-mediately and complete very soon.

The future of Zeliangrong people lies in unity.

With the observance of 107th birth anniversary of Rani Gaidinliu let us hope that the gov-ernment of India does something tangible for Zeliangrong people in reciprocal for the contribution rendered by Rani Gaidinliu," ZCOs said in a press release.

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