ZUF Chairman highlights legacy of Haipou Jadonang on Martyrs’ Day

The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) observed the 94th Haipou Jadonang Martyrs’ Day in New Delhi, where its Chairman, Pou Jenchui Kamei, addressed the gathering and highlighted the significance of Jadonang’s life and political contributions as a freedom fighter of India.
Speaking at the event, which coincided with the 7th round of political talks with the Government of India, the ZUF Chairman paid homage to Haipou Jadonang and other martyrs who had laid down their lives for the cause of the Zeliangrong homeland movement. He described Jadonang as the founder of the Zeliangrong Revolutionary Movement (ZRM) and credited him for initiating the struggle against colonial rule in the region.
Kamei expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for facilitating dialogue on the long-pending Zeliangrong political issue. He emphasized that the ongoing political talks represent an opportunity to address historical injustices and fulfil the aspirations of the Zeliangrong people.
Tracing the roots of the Zeliangrong political movement, he recalled how it began as a resistance to colonial taxation under British rule and grew into a freedom movement alongside India’s independence struggle. He pointed out that Jadonang, much like other Indian freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru, was executed by the colonial regime in 1931 for his defiance.
The ZUF Chairman criticized what he termed as historical wrongs committed by both colonial authorities and successive governments, including the division of Zeliangrong land into three states—Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. He asserted that these divisions, along with tribal fragmentation, were the outcome of the British “divide and rule” policy and have continued to affect the region.
Underscoring the importance of the ongoing talks, Kamei stated that the sacrifices of Jadonang and generations of Zeliangrong people should not go in vain. He urged the Government of India to officially recognize Haipou Jadonang as a “Freedom Fighter of India” and to honour his legacy at par with other national heroes.
The event concluded with renewed calls from ZUF for unity, recognition, and a political settlement that would address the historical grievances of the Zeliangrong people.