By Jagdamba Mall
In African continent, the Negro community practiced their indigenous faith `“ Voodoo religion before the advent of Christianity. The British people practiced Dhrud religion. But these were uprooted. The civilizations practised by Inca, Maya, Aztec and Cheroki tribes of America were destroyed. Hundreds of them were killed for protecting their civilization. But now they are re-inventing it. They are reviving it. Britain has recognised Dhrud religion. Similarly Voodoo religion is also recognised in South Africa. The countries in Middle East are also reviving their indigenous culture and religion popular before the advent of Islam.
Similarly, our forefathers had rich cultural heritage in Naga society. They had well developed concept of God and philosophy of life. This was best suited with nature. Our forefather`™sbelieved in co-existence and symbiosis. They not only tolerated other religions but they helped them to grow simultaneously. This eternal religion encouraged them to live as honest, hospitable and industrious and have devotion in God. It developed colourful culture. This should have been promoted and practiced to preserve the cultural identity of Nagas but it was cursed and condemned as savage and wild, which was absolutely wrong. If it is not revived and promoted today it will be lost forever as it has happened in western countries in Middle East.
Rani Gaidinliu, though in a tender age of 14, understood the significance of rich and colourful culture of Nagas. She had divine power by birth. She visited Pubon cave in Dima Hasao district of Assam near Silchar. She also visited Zeilak lake in Tamenglong district of Manipur and holy places in Nagaland. She got enlightenment from Lord Tingwang. After enlightenment she spread divine messages of Tingwang.
During those days in 1920, and thereafter the British occupational forces were spreading their tentacles in Naga Hills and adjoining Naga areas. There was no Nagaland during those days.Even Dimapur was not in Naga Hills. Tuengsang was part of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). But Rani Ma mobilised an organised armed freedom struggle against British. At Hungrum, the Zeliangrong army under leadership of Rani Gaidinliu and her commanders came face to face and fought a fierce battle where seven Rani Jawans were martyred and equal number of British Army were killed.
She gave a clarion call to all Zeliangrong people and other members of Naga society (i) to join disobedience movement against British expansionist forces (ii) not to pay house taxes and other taxes (iii) not to render porter services to British people and British Army officers and (iv) not to give up Zeliangrong eternal religion and culture. She toured all the Zeliangrong villages in Naga Hills, Assam and Manipur. Different Zeliangrong villages were offering Mithun in her honour. This practice of offering Mithun and welcoming her army was to assure and commit their solidarity with her freedom struggle. The British Government promoted foreign missionaries who condemned eternal religion and culture of Zeliangrong people and helped British in spreading their rule and reign. Because of this, she alerted her people against this conspiracy and conversion crusade. For this reason, the British caught her on October 18, 1932 in Poilwa village when she was constructing wooden fort to accommodate 5000 Zeliangrong freedom fighters. Our own Zeliangrong people conspired against her because of which she wascaptured. She was bought to Kohima and put her in jail for two months. Here a mock trial was done. The British imprisoned her for life on treason and murder charges.
The charges framed were similar to those of Haipou Jadonang of Kambiron (Puilon) `“ (i) the murder of five Meitei betel traders on way to Silchar (ii) the revolt against British rule (iii) declaration of Naga Raj (iv)totalboycott of British rule and (v) practice and promotion of `wild`™ cult called Heraka. After five months in Imphal jail, she was bought in Guwahati jail for a year where she was brutally tortured in jail. She was kept in such a dilapidated and crumbling cell seeping during rain that scorpions and poisonous snakes used to crawl inside the secluded prison cell. It was done with an intension to let her die after a snake-bite or scorpion-sting. But she was peaceful in this cell meditating for God`™s boons and blessings. The attempts were made to commit rape on her but nobody could dare to do that heinous crime after seeing her face shining with `aura`™. The jailer had assigned a jail police to enquire each day if Gaidinliu was dead due to snake bite or disease. When police would call her from outside, she would respond him instantly and in a very normal way and voice as if nothing was done. After over a month`™s surveillance and scrutiny, the jailer realised and recognised Gaidinliu`™s divine power and fearless life. Whenever, the jailer met he found her smiling shining face and forehead with subtle emanation. Rather, she would enquire about well-being of him and his family. The jailer was thus moved and developed respect and reverence for her. After a month she was allotted a better cell. But British Govt was afraid of her divine power. They moved her away to Shillong jail after a year so that she could not establish communication from her prison cell with her lieutenants in Naga areas.
She was for quite long in Shillong jail and was tortured here also. Other prisoners were also mal-treated. They were forced to do labour job but they were not given proper food, medicines and remunerations. Gaidinliu revolted against jail authority and went on fast unto death. Lastly, the jail authorities conceded her demands. The other fellow prisoners developed regards for her as goddess. When Nehru visited Silchar he had heard about Gaidinliu in Shillong jail. In 1937, he visited Shillong jail and met in her prison cell. He was surprised to see this brave Naga girl of hardly 22. He asked why she revolted against British leading her to life imprisonment knowing fully well that the revolt against white rule would incur British wrath. She replied- `I am fighting for freedom of my people and for my country. I am also fighting for protection and promotion of my eternal religion and culture. What is wrong in that? We have got every right to enjoy liberty in life and freedom of religion. Nobody should have objection to what God we believe in, and what religion we practice. The attack on our religion and at the sovereignty of the country must be resisted with all the might at our command. Because of that I am imprisoned`. On hearing this, Nehru was moved and out of love and regard he fondly called her as `Rani of Nagas`. He recognised her contribution in freedom of country and wrote to Lady Ester of British Parliament to move a resolution for the release of Gaidinliu. She did move resolution in British Parliament but White rulers termed Gaidinliu as `Terror of Northeast` and feared to release her. The British stated that once she was out, the rebellion against British would spread like wild fire.When Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was President of Congress a resolution was passed again in the meeting of Indian National Congress in Ahmedabad, Gujrat to request British Govt for releasing her from jail .This was quoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking as Chief Guest in a program on 24th August 2015 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The British arranged a handsome Khasi boy and the Govt put the proposal if she married him and start living a normal life she would be released from jail and her charges would be dropped but she flatly refused. Rather she was very angry on such silly saga. She was,thereafter moved to Aizawl jail and finally to Tura jail from where was released when India got independence in 1947.
The country was celebrating the achievement of freedom but Gaidinliu- the freedom fighter was taken away more than 500km away from her people to a solitary small Chang village- Yimrup in NEFA now Tuensang district of Nagaland. She was not allowed to visit Zeliangrong area and meet her people. When NNC movement was at its peak and her lieutenants of Zeliangrong Army and eternal religion and culture were threatened at gun point, her life was in danger. She adopted jungle path in 1960 to 1966 to defend her innocent people and her religion and culture. She fought with NNC militants but she never attacked any Church nor did she kill anybody only because he or she was a Christian. When she was attacked brutally by NNC, she had to face the challenge to defend her people. In that course, there were recurrent clashes between NNC and Rani Gaidinliu Army. Sometimes in 1963 NNC approached Rani Gaidinliu to maintain peace. Rani Ma agreed to the proposal and a daylong meeting was held resulting into a six point agreement between both the warring parties. Unfortunately, NNC violated the agreement. They attacked Rani jawans and killed nine of them. The NNC cadres burnt 19 Heraka houses to ashes. The Rani Ma`™s army retaliated. This ambush and counter ambush continued till middle of 1966.
In 1966, the State Government of Nagaland under P. Shilu Ao as Chief Minister, the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima Shri S.C.Dev was assigned the job of contacting Rani Gaidinliu and convincing her to surrender. He met her in thick jungle near Nsong. After several negotiations through interlocutors and constant persuasion she finally agreed to surrender aftersigning an agreement. She appeared at Nsong, came to Tening and surrendered her arms and army and then settled in Kohima. The state government granted (i) a freedom fighter`™s pension (ii) a type Vbungalow (iii) two lady attendants (iv) one UDA as PA (v) one new Mahindra jeep (vi) driver and (vii) 10 Nagaland Police as permanent Security guard at her residence. She was provided travel expenditure, an additional vehicle and police patrol party to escort her in the places of her visit. Whenever, she visited Delhi or other metropolis in the country, the state government of Nagaland granted money to meet her travel expenses. Her medical bills and those of her staff and family members were reimbursed. She was in VIP list in State and Central Government. On every Independence Day or Republic Day each year or on occasion of Prime Minister`™s visit or in any public program of National interest she was state`™s special Invitee as state Guest.
She was President of Nagaland unit of All India Freedom Fighters Association. She was patron of several nation level public organisations. While speaking in various function at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Madras and other prominent places in the country, she talked about the virtues of Naga society. She informed the nation that all Nagas were not Christians and all Christian Nagas were not anti-India. She also informed the nation that still there were sizeable number of Nagas in most of Naga communities living in remote villages who follow their eternal religion and culture. What is wrong in that when she spoke like that? Was it incorrect during those days? Because of her constant crusade to correct the history and brighten the `terrorist` and `anti-Indian` image of Naga society, the Naga students and Naga youths in other parts of the country gone for higher study and livelihood, could avoid the insult and indignity and attain the peace and prestige in those places.
Shri Neiphiu Rio, then MLA in early 1995 attended as a Chief Guest of Japfu Phiki Pfutsana Keseko Kehou (Organisation of Angami followers of their indigenous faith) in Mima village. While speaking he said, `The Christian missionaries should not convert the remaining Pfutsana followers from Angami community because it must be kept intact so that whenever felt necessary, it can be revived and rejuvenated`. Rani Gaidinliu`™s message was also clear and loud- `Protect, preserve and promote your eternal religion and culture to maintain native cultural Identity of Nagas`. Was this proclamation of Rani Ma wrong and offending? India is a secular country where followers of each religion have equal freedom of practice. But Nagaland was declared as `Nagaland for Christ` and forcible conversion at gunpoint was launched out. Rani Ma`™s followers `“ Herakas and Sansaris were hunted out. When opposed, the Church leaders and NNC said that since Nagaland was a Christian majority state declared as `Nagaland for Christ` and also Baptist Christianity as constitutionally and officially declared state religion, all Nagas must follow Baptist Christianity. On other side, Nagaland is an integral part of India and 85% Indians are Hindu. What will happen if India is declared as Hindu nation and Christianity is not allowed to exist? Where shall Naga Christians then go? The fact is that neither `Nagaland for Christ` is justified nor presumed Hindu India.
Rani Ma preached love, peace and harmony to one and all irrespective caste, creed and religion. She lived upto her ideals till her death. She believed not only in tolerance but co-existence and symbiosis. She respected all religions but loved most her own Heraka religion. She propounded emphatically that Christianity may be good but it was a foreign religion whereas Heraka was her own religion perfect in all respect. Every religion of the world had cropped up and propped up some irrelevant practices with the passage of time. Christian history is also full of stories of Christian reformers. Bertrand Russel and Martin Luther were iconic Christian reformers accompanied with scores more. Hindus and Muslim too have many reformers. Rani Ma Gaidinliu was first and foremost reformer in Naga society. She is an icon in Naga society. She is the symbol of bright image of Nagas and their eternal religion, colourful culture and Nagas`™ cultural identity which is in crisis today. Unfortunate that there are some members of Naga society who are behaving as an iconoclast in opposing Rani Ma`™s philosophy of life, her ways of worship and place of worship, her historic and unique contribution to Naga society. Naga society should note and recollect that iconoclasm and religious intolerance are foreign to Naga ethos, whatever intolerance is appearing today is because of alien addiction. Rani ma was simply a freedom fighter, spiritual leader, social reformer, epoch maker, educator and a centripetal force in uniting Zemi, Liangmei and Rongmei clans. Rani Gaidinliu was the greatest leader of Zeliangrong People`™s Convention (ZPC). Simultaneously, she was close friend of Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narhsimha Rao. Because of her dynamic leadership, the demand of Zeliangrong Homeland reached up to Union Ministry for Home Affairs New Delhi when Buta Singh was Home Minister. The things were going well but because of some weakness of our own people from Zeliangrong community, the plan was failed. Had Zeliangrong Homeland come true, the dream of greater Nagaland would have, at least partially, fulfilled. It was Rani Gaidinliu who did it. It was Rani Gaidinliu who sent hundreds of Naga students for primary and higher education outside the state. They have come back to Nagaland and leading a respectable life here.
Before Independence in 1947, almost all Nagas were follower of their eternal religion and culture barring microscopic minority of Nagas converted to Baptist Christianity. Most of parents and grand -parents of today`™s Naga Christians were follower of eternal religion and native culture inherited by our forefathers from generation to generation. They held their religion fast. Simultaneously, each Naga community was freedom-loving and democratic people. When British came in Naga areas alongwith white Christian missionaries, each and every Naga villages revolted against them. It was spontaneous response of a free Naga following his forefather`™s religion and culture having rule of his own throughout the village. Each village was governed by customary laws.
The Khonoma Revolt led by Angami warriors against white rule and alien religion was a unique well-organised revolt ever put forth against British occupational forces in the middle of nineteenth century. A.Z.Phizo himself led a group of Angami Nagas to assist the Indian National Army (INA) of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to fight against British army in Kohima battle of Second World War in 1944. Kohima War Cemetery is the testimony to this fact. As per the book and CD brought over by Chesezu villagers in Chakhesang area, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose stayed in their village at the place over shadowed by bamboo groves. The Chesezu villagers are carefully preserving the place where Netaji stayed and took bath. A book and a CD have been brought over by a Chakhesang author. The villagers have named two adjacent high mountain peaks as Netaji Peak. The youths of the village are maintaining a guest house for tourists and visitors of the Netaji Peaks.
The forty-eight Chakhesang youths of Thevepisumi village situated 25 km east of Kohima, were murdered in one-go by armed cadres of NNC on the charges of refusing to support NNC movement. In the year 1980 and thereafter, several people were killed and even several Churches were attacked by our own people. And it was reported in local media that nearly forty thousand Nagas were killed in the fight for freedom from India. Who killed them? Indian Army? Or, one group killed other?This has gone into the pages of history. One must note that history can be created but it cannot be changed. It can neither be ever evaded nor be ever eradicated. It is a permanent record.
Rani Gaidinliu was not in any way responsible for such holocaust. Instead of showering veneration, the brisk flurry of vengeance and abuses are spilled over Rani Ma. She is being condemned and cursed as tantric witch, human blood sucker, magician, sorceress, Frankenstein monster, an ignorant superstitious incoherent woman, an unlettered village witch, a sham (imposter), the very handy and reneged Baptist witch, Rani of Rongmeis from Lungkao, absurd and ridiculous lady so on and so forth. Why are other killers not cursed in the way Rani Ma is condemned? Is it because they professed Christianity and Rani Gaidinliu did not? If it is so, is it the real Christianity? Is it the true face of Christianity? The Church leaders preach day and night that Christianity unites the people but an attempt appears to be being made by few people with mala fide intension to segregate Rani Ma from Zeliangrong community by describing her as Rani of Rongmeis. This is a conspiracy to weaken Zeliangrong community further. The use of abusive and unparliamentarily words for Rani Ma is unbecoming behaviour devoid of any wisdom.
There are several stone statues of St. Francis, St. Joseph, St. Xavier, Don Bosco and Mother Teressa at several prominent places in Kohima, Dimapur and other places in Nagaland. Were they native Nagas of Nagaland? If Govt. of India proposes today to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Kohima, will it be opposed and still demand truck-load of money from Delhi for survival in Nagaland. And if Mahatma Gandhi`™s statue is also opposed, will it be wise?
There are many Nagas from Manipur in underground organisations who are fighting for the cause of all Nagas irrespective of their place of birth. If some agreement is finally signed with Delhi, will the underground leaders from Manipur or from Assam not be allowed to settle in Kohima or will their statues, monuments and memorials not be allowed to be installed, erected or constructed in Kohima? If this also is opposed, will it be wise? If these are opposed, the enlightened people will call it as melodrama enacted by a group of malignant megalomaniacs.
Delhi cannot be claimed as their own by any group of people. Similarly, Kolkata, Mumbai, Madras and other mega polis cannot be claimed by anybody as their own exclusively. Not even any state capital can be the sole property of a particular community though that city might be established in the area of that community. Similarly, Kohima is the capital of Nagaland and thereby, this city is the property of every Naga. India is the home of every Hindu-non-resident Indians living abroad and genuine citizens living in different states. Similarly, Nagaland is the home of Nagas. No Naga can be prevented from living here or from erecting / installing monuments and statues of prominent leaders of a particular Naga community.
Rani Gaidinliu was certainly born in Lungkao village situated in today`™s Manipur but there was no Manipur during British period. Further, she was a divine girl by birth and joined rebellion against British at the age of 14. She continued touring in Zeliangrong areas now vivisected in three states- Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. From 1947 till her death she was in Nagaland spending most of the time in Kohima. She sacrificed her life for the betterment of not only Zeliangrong people but every section of Naga society. Her approach was all-inclusive and all-embracive and never a sectarian irrespective of caste, creed and religion. She is highly venerated women in whole of the Zeliangrong community. She is `Mother` of all of us. Those who are abusing her should also think that sentiments of Zeliangrong people are hurt. Think how would you feel if a reputed person in your family or in your community is insulted? You will certainly be hurt. Similarly, we are also wounded when our Rani Ma is condemned for no reason or rhyme.
Our country has honoured her by awarding Tamra Patra, Padma Bhushan, commemorative one rupee postal stamp, commemorative 100 rupee and 5 rupee coins with photo of Rani Ma. She has also been awarded (i) Vivekanand Puruskar (ii) Birsa Munda Award (iii) Instituted commemorative Stree Shakti Puruskar in Rani Gaidinliu`™s name. Her Birth Centenary was celebrated at 30 places throughout the country under the aegis of National Committee for Birth Centenary Celebration of Rani Gaidinliu. The Governor Shri P.B.Acharya and Chief Minister Shri T.R.Zeliang were Chief Patrons.
In addition to that, National Implementation Committee for Commemoration of following programs was constituted-
1. Birth Centenary of Rani Gaidinliu
2. Birth Centenary of Bhishma Sahani (Cinema artist)
3. 150th year of Lala Lajpat Roy
4. 200th year of Tatya Tope
5. 475th Year of Maharana Pratap
6. 500th Year of return of Chaitanya Maha Prabhu to Vrindavan
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is the Chairman of that Committee which will be organising several programs throughout the country through Zonal Cultural Centres and other socio-cultural organisation.
The remarkable incidents occurred in the life of Rani Gaidinliu (posthumous or living) do not occur in the life of an ordinary person. The nation has recognised her divine virtues and her role as a bridge over gulf between Naga and non-Naga community. We should also honour this rare Naga lady popularly known as Rani Ma.
I appeal to one and all, particularly Kohima Village Youth Organisation to cooperate in building of Rani Gaidinliu Museum cum Library and installation of statue of Rani Ma.