NEWS

Union Home Minister laid the foundation stone for the ‘Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum’ in Manipur’s Tamenglong district. The museum project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

ABOUT

• A spiritual and political leader of the Rongmei tribe
• Born on January 26, 1915 at Luangkao village of Manipur
• Became associated with freedom fighter and religious leader, Haipou Jadonang, who was also a Rongmei, started the ‘Heraka movement’, based on ancestral Naga religion, and envisioned an independent Naga kingdom (or Naga-Raja)
• Her association with Jadonang prepared her to fight the British
• After the execution of Jadonang, she took up the leadership of the movement — which slowly turned political from religious.
• Started a serious revolt against the British and was eventually imprisoned for life. She was released after 14 years, in 1947.
• Acknowledging her role in the struggle against the British, Jawaharlal Nehru called her the “Daughter of the Hills” and gave her the title “Rani” or queen.
• Passed away on February 17, 1993 at her native village Luangkao.
• Bestowed a number of honours including the Tamrapatra in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1982, Vivekananda Sewa Summan in 1983, and Stree Shakti Puraskar in 1991.
• Posthumously was awarded the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Puraskar in 1996.
• Government of India also issued a commemorative stamp in her honour in the same year.
• The Indian Coast Guard commissioned a Fast Patrol Vessel “ICGS Rani Gaidinliu” in 2016.
• In 2015, the Centre, on her birth anniversary, issued commemorative coins of Rs 100 and a circulation coin of Rs 5 in her honour.