The birth centenary of a legendary freedom fighter.

Today the nation is celebrating the birth centenary of Rani Gaidinliu, the leegendary freedom  fighter.

Prime Minister Modi on account of her centenary: 

It is unfortunate that after so many years of Independence several people who fought for freedom are not well known.We have never believed that kings or rulers have made this Nation, we believe India is made by the people.Rani Maa devoted herself to service for her entire life.

Glimpses of her life :

Gaidinliu (1915–1993) was a Naga spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against British rule in India.[At the age of 13, she joined the Heraka religious movement of her cousin Haipou Jadonang. The movement later turned into a political movement seeking to drive out the British from Manipur and the surrounding Naga areas. Within the Heraka cult, she came to be considered as an incarnation of the goddess Cherachamdinliu.] Gaidinliu was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British rulers. Jawaharlal Nehru met her at Shillong Jail in 1937 and promised to pursue her release. Nehru gave her the title of "Rani" ("Queen"), and she gained local popularity as Rani Gaidinliu. She was released in 1947 after India's independence and continued to work for the upliftment of her people. She organised a resistance movement against the Naga National Council (NNC)-led insurgents in 1966 and had to go underground. She was honoured as a freedom fighter and was awarded a Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Rani Gaidinliu, popularly know as Rani Ma, is a highly revered Naga lady for her selfless services to Naga society and fight for freedom of the country. She was a committed lady for the preservation, protection and promotion of her forefather’s religion, eternal culture, customary laws and traditional village institutions. She organised Naga army and challenged British empire. British Government declared her as terror of north east and had awarded life imprisonment to her. When Pt. Nehru approached the British government to free her, they refused to oblige on the plea that if Rani Gaidinliu was freed, the revolt against British empire would spread like wildfire. She came out of Shillong prison when the country got Independence on August 15, 1947. But the travesty is that she was not allowed to visit her people for whose freedom, religion and culture she sacrificed her prime of youth. Same reason was given that if she was allowed to return to her Heraka people, the movement for preservation, protection and promotion of her forefather’s religion and eternal culture would catch-up momentum.

In later part of her life, she was closely associated with National Organizations like Kalyan Ashram, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Vidya Bharati. She met M.S. Golwalkar (Guruji) at Jorhat in 1969. She attended the world Hindu Conference organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad in 1979 at Allahabad. She was Chief Guest in the Mahila Sammelan organized by Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram at Bhilai in 1985. It is also noteworthy that Rani Gaidinliu wrote letters to Prime Minister in support of “Freedom of Religions Act 1978”, ‘Ram Janmabhoomi movement’ and in opposition of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Bharat in 1986. 

She clearly and fearlessly preached among her people that a society whose forefather’s religion, culture, tradition, village institution and customary laws are destroyed, becomes weak and vigourless. In due course of time indiscipline and chaotic situation prevailed in that society. Rani Ma and Pau N.C. Zeliang reverberated this doctrine repeatedly. Unfortunately, Naga leaders- political, social or of church, preferred to ignore. 

The visit of Rani Ma in any Naga area used to spread like wildfire and people. Christians and Hindus (non-Christians) both used to come out on the road to have a darshan of her. She would stop at gathering at prominent places, meet the people, exchange the good-wishes and then advance on journey. The Hindu society worshipped her like a Goddess. She toured the country extensively. 

She met the second RSS Sarsanghachalak MS Golwalkar (Guruji) in early seventies at Guwahati, attended the Second World Hindu Conference 1979 at Prayagraj (Allahabad) at Sangam (convergence) during one and quarter month long Maagh Mela. She graced the World Women Conference as its President where the lady dignitaries from all over the country and abroad had assembled. Since then, she had close association with a number of dignitaries and organisations throughout the country. She became a bridge between Naga society and larger Hindu Samaj.

For the selfless service to the society and the country she was conferred a number of awards.
• Freedom Fighter Tamrapatra Award 1972 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
• Padma Bhushan 1982 by President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.
• Vivekananda Sewa Samman 1983 by Bada Bazar Kumarsabha Pustakalaya, Kolkata.
• Birsa Munda Award, 1996 (Posthumous)

Though Rani Gaidinliu was from one of the remotest villages of Manipur in Northeast Bharat, her freedom struggle for the independence of Bharatvarsh was self- inspired and divine because the news of freedom movement spearheaded by Gandhiji and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hardly reached to her due to inaccessible mountains and language barriers.

 She was a religious leader and divine lady as well who led a religious reform movement simultaneously.

 She spent fifteen years of her youthful life in various jails at Kohima, Guwahati, Tura and Shillong which is perhaps longest jail yatra of a freedom fighter .

 She took up arms again during the period 1960 to 1966 to fight against Naga National Council (NNC) headed by Phizo and Christian missionaries in independent Bharatvarsh to defend her religion and culture from Christian missionaries supported by NNC. Shri Jagdamba Mall described her as the bridge at the gulf of Nagas and plains’ people.

Rani Gaidinliu was a committed Bharatiya patriot who sacrificed her life at the altar of Bharatmata. She was a great motivator because of that the men and women were equally fighting against the British aggressors. Shri Thunbui Zeliang said, “She was quite live with national problems in Independent Bharatvarsh. She supported Freedom of Religion Bill 1978 and opposed the coming of Pope in 1985. She attended 2nd World Hindu Conference at Prayag in 1979. She toured the various places of the country and told the Bharatiya masses that most of the Nagas – Christians and Hindus both wanted to live in Bharatvarsh except handful Nagas under the grip of NNC. "

source:http://ranigaidinliu.org

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