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The Sentinel P A G E AUGUST 6, 2018

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CMYK Edt

Rani Gaidinliu Remember, when you’re in the right, you can afford to kep your temper and Gaidinliu (1915–1993) was a Naga spiritual and political leader who led a when you’re in the wrong you can’t afford to lose it. revolt against British rule in .[1] At the age of 13, she joined the Heraka - J. Gratham religious movement of her cousin . The movement later turned Yes, anger is a strong emotion that visits us now and then. It is described as into a political movement seeking to drive out the British from and an aid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to the surrounding Naga areas. Within the Heraka faith, she came to be anything on which it is poured. So, it is poured. So, it is something that we considered an incarnation of the Goddess Cherachamdinliu.[2] Gaidinliu was need to handle with great care. When we are angry, we open our mouth and arrested in 1932 at the age of 16, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by shut our eyes and become judgemental and one side in our attitude. When we cool down and think reationally, we usually realize our decision was the British rulers. met her at Jail in 1937, and sometime wrong or biased. So, let us control our anger before it controls us. promised to pursue her release. Nehru gave her the title of "Rani" ("Queen"), and she gained local popularity as Rani Gaidinliu. Think about it.

She was released in 1947 after India's independence, and continued to work for the upliftment of her people. An advocate of the ancestral Naga religious An apology is the super glue of life. It can repair just about anything. practices, she staunchly resisted the conversion of Nagas to Christianity. She - Lynn Johnston was honoured as a freedom fighter and was awarded a by Having a healthy life is having a forgiving heart. If someone says sorry and the . means it, then we should forgive. We should not let our pride blind us from what is good and what is not. Sometimes we are wrong and need to make Early life amends. We need to find ways to make it up to the one we hurt. Saying sorry Gaidinliu was born on 26 January 1915 at Nungkao (or Longkao) village in is not enough, we have to know how to make things right. Show how the present-day Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong District, Manipur. She regretful we are, and finally, do something to fix what seems to be broken. was from the Rongmei tribe (also known as Kabui). She was the fifth of eight And even if we have no idea if our apology will be accepted or forgiveness children, including six sisters and a younger brother, born to Lothonang Pamei will be offered, saying we are sorry is the wisest and strongest thing to do. and Kachaklenliu.[3] The family belonged to the ruling clan of the village.[4] Think about it. She did not have a formal education due to the lack of schools in the area.[5]

As Haipou Jadonang's disciple Sooner or later, we will have to recognise that the Earth has rights, too, to live In 1927, when she was just 13, Gaidinliu joined the Heraka movement of her without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot cousin Haipou Jadonang, who had emerged as a prominent local leader. live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans. Jadonang's movement was a revival of the Naga tribal religion. It also aimed - Evo Morales to end the British rule and establish the self-rule of the Nagas (Naga Raj). It Yes it is true - the Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth. attracted a number of followers from the tribes (the Zeme, Thoughtful, committed citizens have been trying very hard to keep Mother Liangmai and Rongmei). With the arrival of guns from Cachar, it turned into Earth clean and beautiful. It has been a tough fight. Environmental pollution an armed rebellion against the British policies of forced labour and ruthless is an incurable disease that can only be prevented. Let us reduce our waste. oppression. Let us reuse whatever we can. Let us also recycle whatever we can. Let us try to leave the Earth a better place than when we arrived. Persuaded by Jadonang's ideology and principles, Gaidinliu became his disciple Think about it. and a part of his movement against the British. In three years, by the age of 16, she became a leader of guerrilla forces fighting against the British rulers.

Rebellion and incarceration After Jadonang was arrested and hanged by the British in 1931, Gaidinliu emerged as his spiritual and political heir.[6]

She openly rebelled against the British rule, exhorting the Zeliangrong people not to pay taxes. She received donations from the local Nagas, many of whom also joined her as volunteers. The British authorities launched a manhunt for her. She evaded arrest by the police, moving across villages in what are now , and Manipur. The Governor of Assam dispatched the 3rd and 4th battalions of the against her, under the supervision of the Naga Hills Deputy Commissioner JP Mills. Monetary rewards were declared for information leading to her arrest: this included a declaration that any village providing information on her whereabouts will get a 10-year tax break. Her forces engaged the Assam Rifles in armed conflicts in the North Cachar Hills (16 February 1932) and the Hangrum village (18 March 1932).

In October 1932, Gaidinliu moved to the Pulomi village, where her followers started building a wooden fortress. While the fortress was under construction, an Assam Rifles contingent headed by Captain MacDonald launched a surprise attack on the village on 17 October 1932. Gaidinliu, along with her followers, was arrested without any resistance near the Kenoma village. Gaidinliu denied CMYK that she had any role in the attack on the Hangrum post of the Assam Rifles or the construction of the fort.[2] In December 1932, her followers from the Leng and the Bopungwemi villages murdered the Kuki chowkidar (watchman) of the Lakema Inspection Bungalow in the Naga Hills, suspecting him to be CMYK the informer who led to her arrest. Gaidinliu was taken to , where she was convicted on the charges of murder and abetment of murder after a 10- month trial. She was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Political Agent's Court for abetment of murder.[7] Most of her associates were either executed or jailed.[5] CMYK CMYK From 1933 to 1947 she served time at the , Shillong, and Tura jails. Many rebels proclaimed her and Jadonang to be their inspiration in refusing to pay taxes to the British. However, her movement declined after the last of her followers, Dikeo and Ramjo, were arrested in 1933. Jawaharlal Nehru met her at the Shillong Jail in 1937 and he promised to pursue her release. His statement, published in the Hindustan Times, described Gaidinliu as a daughter of the hills and he gave her the title 'Rani' or Queen of her people. Nehru wrote to the British MP Lady Astor to do something for the