Rani Gaidinliu: The Life and Legacy of a Revolutionary Leader

Rani Gaidinliu
●  Rani Gaidinliu was born on January 26, 1915 in Luangkao village, now in Taosem sub-division of Tamenglong district, Manipur.
●  The history of the Indian independence movement is replete with the contribution of innumerable brave personalities; One of them was "Rani Gaidinliu", a spiritual and political Naga leader.
●  Although she is popularly known as "Rani Gaidinliu", her childhood name was Gaidinliu. She belonged to the Rengma tribe, one of the three Zeliangrang tribes.
●  Gaidinliu was introduced to the revolutionary world at the age of 13, when she joined the 'Herka Movement'. It was a socio-religious movement started under the leadership of Gaidinliu's cousin, 'Hapou Jadonang'.
●  Jadonang was the spiritual leader of his tribe who preached against those British missionaries.
●  The Herka movement supported the demand for self-rule of the Nagas. Although the aims of the movement were related to religious reform, there was an underlying sense of political opposition to British rule.
●  Jadonang was arrested and hanged in a false case in the year 1931.
●  After Jadonang's untimely demise, Gaidinliu emerged as his political and spiritual successor and the movement was handed over to her.
●  At the age of 17, Gaidinliu started propagating Gandhian principles and leading an open rebellion against the British rule. She urged the people of the Zeliangrang tribe not to pay taxes or cooperate with the British.
●  Gaidinliu urged them to unite and fight against the British and called to face the repressive measures implemented by the police and the Assam Rifles.
●  She launched several attacks on the British, resorting to guerrilla warfare, in the Cachar hills (16 February 1932) and at the village of Hungaram (18 March 1932).
●  On October 17, 1932, Gaidinliu was captured from Pulomi village, where she and her associates were hiding, from where she was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and abetment of murder.
●  During her visit to Shillong in 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru met Gaidinliu and promised to make efforts for her release. After this meeting, Nehru awarded her the title of "Rani" for her courage, and in an article published by the Hindustan Times, she was described as "the daughter of the mountains".
●  Rani Gaidinliu was awarded Tamrapatra (1972), Padma Bhushan (1982), Vivekananda Seva Samman (1983) and Bhagwan Birsa Munda Award (posthumously) in 1996.
●  A commemorative postage stamp was issued in the year 1996 and commemorative coins were also issued to honor her on January 26, 2015, on the occasion of her centenary year.
●  In the year 2016, Indian Coast Guard commissioned a fast patrol vessel named 'ICGS Rani Gaidinliu'.
●  Recently, a project was approved for the construction of a museum dedicated to the freedom fighters. It will be built at her birthplace and will be named 'Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum'.
●  Rani Gaidinliu died on February 17, 1993.