The Zeliangrong Welfare Association Delhi (ZWAD) on Tuesday solemnly observed the 33rd death anniversary of freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu, recalling her contributions to India’s independence and her efforts for the unity and upliftment of the Zeliangrong people.
In a statement issued on the occasion, the association described Rani Gaidinliu as an indomitable spiritual and political leader who dedicated her life to the liberation and dignity of her people. It stated that she was born on January 26, 1915 at Nungkao (Luangkao) village in present-day Tamenglong district and joined the freedom movement at the age of 13 under the guidance of her cousin, Haipou Jadonang.
Following the execution of Jadonang by the British in 1931, she assumed leadership of the Heraka movement and intensified resistance against colonial rule. The association stated that her movement opposed unjust taxation, forced labour and cultural suppression, and mobilised the Zeliangrong community to assert their indigenous faith and identity.
Referring to the historic Hangrum attack of March 1932, the association said her followers had confronted colonial forces with remarkable courage despite limited arms. It added that she evaded arrest for months by taking shelter in remote jungle hideouts, including caves in the Mount Kisha area of Magulong, with support from her people. She was eventually captured on October 17, 1932 at Poilwa and sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 17, spending 14 years in British jails.
The statement noted that in 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru hailed her as the “Rani” of her people, a title that became integral to her legacy. She was released in 1947 following India’s independence.
According to the association, Rani Gaidinliu continued her efforts in independent India to unite the Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei and Inpui communities under one administrative unit within the constitutional framework of the Union of India. It stated that in the 1960s she again went underground to defend the cultural and spiritual foundations of the Heraka faith and to safeguard her people’s identity.
The association further stated that she consistently opposed injustice and marginalisation and had warned against the long-term impact of administrative divisions that fragmented Zeliangrong-inhabited areas across Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.
It recalled that the Government of India honoured her with the Tamrapatra Freedom Fighter Award in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 1982 in recognition of her contributions. She passed away on February 17, 1993 at Luangkao village at the age of 78.
On the occasion, the Zeliangrong Welfare Association Delhi called upon the people to remember Rani Gaidinliu as a national hero whose life symbolised resistance, unity and constitutional integration, stating that her ideals of justice, identity preservation and inclusive development remain relevant.