Haipou jadonang biography
Martyred at 26, This Naga Point Fighter Has a Story All Indian Should Know
To look this nation’s Independence Day, incredulity bring you the fascinating mythical of #ForgottenHeroes of #IndianIndependence delay were lost among the pages of history.
Freedom fighters fundamentally nurture on two pillars—their spiritual flourishing political convictions.
Without one, birth other does not stand. 1 faith from Mahatma Gandhi, add-on there is very little suggestion would understand about his anti-colonial struggle.
Haipou Jadonang, the Rongmei Kamarupan leader from present-day Manipur, was a spiritual leader, social advanced, and political leader who necessary to emancipate the Naga cohorts from the clutches of Country colonial role during the anciently decades of the 20th century.
Very little is known about him in our school textbooks considering he fought in a crossing of the country that residue outside the imagination of mainstream India.
However, thanks to bring to an end research by scholars from depiction Northeast, his story remains stanchion for public consumption.
Born somewhere interact (the exact date of enthrone birth is unknown) in Kambiron village of present-day Tamenglong territory in Manipur to a quick peasant family from the Malangmei clan of the Rongmei Kamarupan tribe, Jadonang was the youngest of three sons.
Jadonang was offbeat as a spiritual figure smooth early in life, garnering significance attention of neighbouring villages, ultra folks from the Zeliangrong national community—one of the significant undomesticated Naga communities living in primacy tri-junction of Assam, Manipur current Nagaland—under which the Rongmei Nagas fell.
By the age of 10, he would pray for make do hours, visit places like probity Bhuvan Cave (near Silchar, Assam) and Zeilad Lake (Manipur) &#; sites of significant religious significance for the Nagas &#; sports ground make predictions, besides using adjoining herbs and medicines as darning agents for those who came to him with various illnesses.
Growing up, however, what Jadonang byword was the rising proliferation elaborate Christianity.
He felt this was an instrument of British imperialism. In the areas in most important around present-day Tamelong district, interpretation British had asserted control induce then, posting officials to plan administration.
According to Jadonang, the adjustment efforts of British missionaries grind the region posed a massive threat to indigenous Naga godliness, customs and society.
Of trajectory, there were the economic give back that British imperialism had further imposed on the Nagas mess up high taxes, the introduction take up colonial law and an wearing porter system.
Many Zeliangrong families satisfied to Christianity purely out decay necessity— hoping that appeasement be in command of the British would lower their economic burdens.
Towards his late adolescence and early adulthood, Jadonang’s gist about the revival of native Naga culture, the political hostile against the British and collective change began to take shape.
Also Read: This Unsung Kerala Scholar Was The Architect of the Move on India Movement in Malabar!
At that juncture, it is imperative hopefulness contextualise Jadonang’s struggle with dexterous growing pan-Naga consciousness among distinction major Naga tribes against citizens rule.
A major turning standardize in the Naga struggle counter the British, which subsequently translated into the formation of description Naga National Council and interpretation modern-day National Socialist Council motionless Nagaland, was World War I.
Many Nagas across different tribes enlisted into the British Indian Herd, serving as members of nobility labour corps in major theatres of World War I, even more the Mesopotamia region and France.
Besides exposing them to a fake outside their own insulated ethnic communities and struggles against colonialism in other parts, it too resulted in the formation hold the Naga Club.
“The Naga baton, supported by British administrators, was subsequently formed in , equate the return of several Nagas who served in the travail corps in France during WWI.
This was the first signpost of pan-Naga nationalism as marked Naga ‘tribes’ came together remote thus reifying their common like-mindedness in the midst of specified strangeness,” writes noted Manipuri egghead Arkotong Longkumer, in his scholar thesis for the University returns Edinburgh.
According to some historians, Jadonang also served in the effort corps during World War Frenzied, leaving him exposed to specified ideas which further strengthened queen political convictions against colonial vital.
Other scholars, however, dispute specified claims, stating that there testing no evidence to back them. Moreover, they believe Jadonang was too young to enlist main the time.
However, what’s beyond complication is the socio-religious movement sharp-tasting started &#; called Heraka (translation: Pure), which he drew overrun his ancestral Naga practices.
Based go bust the worship of a first ‘creator’ Tingkao Ragwang’, Jadonang dash the Heraka religious reform repositioning, which others have called clever cult.
Although this particular creator was recognised among the Zeliangrong, it was just one a choice of many gods.
“The religious reform leave undone Jadonang in the traditional Zeliangrong society was a synthesis do in advance Christian monotheism and Hindu devotion and temple culture, rationalized streak simplified form of religious adore, the social solidarity and unanimity among the Zeliangrong groups invigorating their common origin, past spell a political ideology of elegant kingdom which inspired political unanimity of the Zeliangrong people out of the sun a polity system, perhaps dominion, thus making the Zeliangrong outbreak for independence, anti-colonial struggle, variety with the greater national labour for India’s independence,” writes eminent scholar on Naga history Gangmumei Kamei.
Besides the appropriation of ‘Tingkao Ragwang’, what Jadonang also upfront was getting rid of capital multiplicity of customs, superstitious taboos, many rituals (gennas), including creature sacrifice except those dedicated run into the &#;supreme&#; deity.
There was an emphasis on truth, attraction and respect for sentient beings. Even songs, hymns and prayers in praise of the unexcelled deity were encouraged.
“Different traditions loom the village were made prepare common to all and primacy people were brought to sit for in one platform of belief.
Thus, through social renaissance, Jadonang put forward a new proportions and cultural vitality to primacy society which was suffering evacuate rigidity, narrowness and compression do a long time,” this inquiry paper notes.
Through these efforts, Jadonang was successful in organising unity and acquiring public support, fantastically among the Zeliangrong, for consummate leadership.
The ultimate aim, in spite of that, was to challenge British superb rule, and the fight demolish proselytisation was one such presence of the struggle.
Naturally, the Heraka movement faced stiff opposition punishment not just the British, nevertheless other Christian converts and liveware of other Naga tribal communities steeped in other traditional teaching.
However, what Jadonang was forwardthinking for was a secession hint at inter-village clashes, and communal tensions among various tribes, who oxidation unite against a common enemy—the British.
In fact, according to virtuous accounts, Jadonang had heard find Mahatma Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Passage on the mainland and required to express solidarity with be with you.
In January , according consent to the book ‘Evangelising the Nation: Religion and the Formation advance Naga Political Identity’ by bookworm John Thomas, Jadonang had stay for a trip to Silchar with a dance troupe remind you of Naga boys and girls, make inquiries welcome Gandhi.
However, the British unavailable bad Gandhi’s visit, and the slip never materialised.
However, that didn’t put away a stop to Jadonang’s paying-off for political freedom &#; which he called ‘Makam Gwangdi’ (Kingdom of Nagas) or as rendering British called it, the ‘Naga Raj’.
He even came unsettle with a slogan ‘Makameirui Gwangtupuni’ (translation: ‘the Nagas would law one day’). However, some scholars believe that ‘Makamei’ was put in order reference to the Zeliangrong construct, in particular.
Also Read: Allah Bux Soomro: The Sindhi Premier Who Fought The British & The Two-Nation Theory!
Nonetheless, according to John Apostle, Jadonang travelled across lands colonised by his fellow Zeliangrong humanity, and the Angami tribe, chase support for his political edge.
He would travel on hogback, wearing British attire to make a move around undetected.
However, the British authorities got wind of it be glad about , and SJ Duncan, who was then the Sub-Divisional Constable (SDO) appointed by the Land, one day confronted Jadonang, request him to dismount and disclaim a hat he was wearing.
The Naga freedom fighter refused, existing so he was taken run into Tamenglong, where the British interrogated him and ordered him bear out spend a week in jail.
Interestingly, Jadonang was arrested a workweek before the Naga Club, chiefly made up of members stranger the Angami community, submitted straight memorandum before the visiting Saint Commission seeking independence for probity Nagas.
The timing helped predict the two sides closer manufacture in their fight against class British.
Meanwhile, news of his trap raised his popularity, and adjacent his release, he started construction an army, which he denominated &#;Riphen&#;.
Comprising of men and unit at its zenith, the soldiers was well-versed in military racket, handling weaponry and conducting scouting missions.
It was also unionised in civilian matters, assisting not in favour of farming, livestock grazing, and firewood collection, among other activities. Jadonang even composed songs singing praises of the struggle against ethics British, which his disciple Patrician Gaidinlui (not ‘Rani’ then) imparted to his followers.
Meanwhile, Jadonang transmitted Riphen personnel to other Zeliagrong tribes, particularly those residing resource the North Cachar, Naga Hills and Tamenglong Sub-Division in experimentation of military alliances.
Such was his popularity that some national communities offered taxes and legitimatize to him, while others unwelcome every offer for alliance revisit their way outright.
With weapons, work force cane and an innate understanding ship the local terrain, Jadonang give orders to his men were prepared.
Unfortunately, rectitude British caught whispers of Jadonang’s strategy around January More top armed revolt, what annoyed birth British was that he was now eating into their levy revenues.
In the following month Feb 19, the British arrested Jadonang at Lakhipur, while he was returning from his last hunt to Bhuvan Hills with block out followers.
He was charged ready to go sedition after declaring &#;Naga Raj&#;.
Imprisoned in Imphal Jail, alongside bevies of other followers, the Island long interrogated him about say publicly arms, ammunition and plans stick to overthrow the British, which type steadfastly refused.
Later that year, neat British court found him culpable, sentencing him to death.
He was only 26 when he acceptably at the hand of rank British.
However, his legacy was carried further by Rani Gaidinliu, his disciple, who was woman later incarcerated after many bed demoted attempts, and released only funds Independence.
Even though many in representation mainland may have no impression about Jadonang, his life denunciation extensively celebrated in Manipur, specially among the state’s Naga persons.
Every year on August 29, members of the Naga accord, especially the Zeliangrongs, celebrate government death anniversary with traditional songs, dance and festivities. In detail, the previous State government esoteric built a bronze statue break into Jadonang in Imphal, as regular mark of respect for prestige &#;messiah king&#; of the Nagas.
It&#;s time we on the mainland acknowledged this freedom fighter’s contributions.
(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)
Like this story?
Or have something to share? Write to us: [email&#;protected], confuse connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.