Our Bureau
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 3
An organization called the National Committee for Birth Centenary Celebration of Rani Ma Gaindinliu (NCBCCRMG) of which Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang is the patron has written to the Prime Minister of India demanding renaming of the Dimapur Airport after Rani Gaindinliu.
The letter addressed to Narendra Modi states that Gaindinliu was born on January 26, 1915 in Lungkao village in Manipur state and is a Zeliengrong Naga who promoted Sanata Dharm and Sanata Sanskriti.
In another letter addressed to Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh, the committee has stated that she took up arms and adopted the jungle path for six years from 1960 to 1966 and fought against the Naga National Council to protect her religion, Sanatan Dharm and Sanata Sanskriti which was being threatened by the NNC. To Ibobi Singh, the committee has demanded installation of her portrait in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, installing her statues in Imphal and other districts of Manipur, preserving her house in Lungkao as a museum and a tourist destination and to support the establishment of a Rani Gaidinliu Central University at a suitable place in the north eastern region.
The letter to the Prime Minister demands to maintain a Rani Gaidinliu museum in Kohima, to install her portrait in Parliament and statues in Delhi and other cities of the country, renaming of Shillong Jail after Rani Gaidinliu, confer the highest civilian award the Bharat Ratna posthumously on her, release a birth centenary postal stamp on her, prepare a documentary film on her, and incorporate her story in schools, colleges and universities.
The letter is signed on the letter head of the committee which states that the Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zelieng is the patron of the committee.
The letter to the Manipur CM informs that Rani Gaidinliu was netted by the British on October 18, 1932 from Poilwa village and put in various jails at Kohima, Imphal, Guwahati, Tura and Shillong for 15 years from 1932 to 1947. It further informs that after that she again took to arms from 1960 to 1966 against the NNC to protect and preserve her religion which was being threatened by the NNC.
The letter states that Rani Gaidinliu was a star freedom fighter from Manipur but Manipur lacks due prominence and importance in national history of freedom struggle of the country.
These set of demands which have been placed to the Manipur Chief Minister and the Prime Minister of India is likely to create much debate and discussion in Nagaland, especially as it demands the renaming of the State’s only airport located at Dimapur after Rani Gaidinliu.
The patron of the committee, T.R. Zeliang, is the chief minister of Nagaland and also belongs to the Zeliangrong community.
Professor Gangmumei Kamei is a member of the advisory board of the committee.
