Rani Gaidinliu

Rani Gaidinliu Biography

Rani Gaidinliu was a Rongmei Naga spiritual and political leader who lived in the 20^th century. She is best remembered for her revolts against British. Well-known spiritual leader and political activist Haipou Jadonang was her cousin and she joined his Heraka religious movement at the age of 13. Later it turned to be a political movement and revolt against British to drive them out of Manipur and the surrounding Naga areas. She was given the title ‘Rani’ by Jawaharlal Nehru and she gained local popularity as Rani Gaidinliu. Gaidinliu was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16, and released only 1947 following Indian independence. Government of India honoured her with Padma Bhushan in 1982. She also received Vivekananda Seva Award in 1983.

Gaidinliu was born on 26 January 1915 in Nungkao, Manipur, British India. Lothonang Pamei and Kachaklenliu were her parents. She belonged to Rongmei tribe, and her family belonged to the ruling clan of the village. She had six sisters and a younger brother. She couldn’t study as there were no schools in their locality. She joined Heraka religious movement - a revival of the Naga tribal religion of her cousin Haipou Jadonang during her early teens and later came to be considered as an incarnation of Goddess Cherachamdinliu. Slowly the religious movement started aiming at British and turned to an armed rebellion. Gaidinliu became a leader of guerrilla forces who fought against British with arms.

Her cousin Haipou Jadonang got arrested and hanged by the British in 1931. After that Gaidinliu became his spiritual successor, and took over the leadership of Heraka movement which turned to be a huge political move against British. Naga political leader openly rebelled against the British rule. She received donations from local Nagas. However she got arrested in 1932 at the age of 16. She was sentenced to life imprisonment by British. Though Jawaharlal Nehru visited her at prison and assured of giving her release, her release happened only in 1947. Thus she spent her youthful 15 years in different prisons. She was released on Prime Minister Nehru's orders from Tura jail. She was conferred "Tamrapatra Freedom Fighter Award" in 1972.

Published: January 30, 2019

Updated: January 30, 2019