Syllabus Section: History (GS Paper I)

Importance: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains

Why in News?

The Union Minister will lay the Foundation Stone of the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Manipur.

About:

Background:

• Rani Gaidinliu was born on January 26, 1915 in Luangkao Village now in Manipur.
• She met Jadonang at the age of 13 and became his lieutenant in his social, religious, and political movement.
• Following Jadonang’s death, Gaidinliu assumed leadership of the movement.
• After the martyrdom of Jadonang, Gaidinliu launched a strong insurrection against the British, for which she was imprisoned by the British for 14 years until being freed in 1947.
• Recognizing her role in the fight against the British, she was referred to as “Rani “.

Heraka movement

• Heraka was a socio-religious movement that originated in the Zeliangrong area in the 1920s.
• Heraka, which means “pure,” is a monotheistic religion whose adherents worshipped Tingkao Ragwang.
• It was founded by Jadonang to oppose the entrance of Christian missionaries as well as the British government’s reforms.
• He observed the persecution by British officials, who forced tribals to work in difficult conditions and levied a large monthly revenue levy on every home.
• Gaidinliu was a pioneer in the Heraka movement, which was founded by her cousin Haipou Jadonang.

Indian Freedom Movement

• Gaidinliu launched her own Non-cooperation Movement among Naga tribes.
• She made it impossible for the British government to operate in the region by ordering that all families refrain from paying taxes.
• She linked her spiritual position as a leader of the socio-religious movement to her role as a nationalist.
• She regularly invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s national efforts to inspire her people to oppose the British.
• “Loss of religion is loss of culture, and loss of culture equals loss of identity,” Gaidinliu argues.

Post-independence and death

• Gaidinliu was opposed to the Naga National Council’s (NNC) desire for sovereignty and independence of Naga territories from India in independent India.
• In reality, she advocated for a distinct Zeliangrong region inside the Union of India.
• She was compelled to go underground in 1960 due to opposition from other Naga leaders to her demand.
• She subsequently made an agreement with the Indian government and disbanded the movement.
• Rani Gaidinliu died on February 17, 1993, at the age of 79.

Source: Indian Express