CorCom said that Jadonang fought against the atrocities of the British and organised a freedom movement for an independent ‘Makan Gwangdi’.
TFM Desk
The proscribed Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella group of militant outfits, gave a revolutionary salute to freedom fighter Haipou Jadonang on his 90th death anniversary observation. Jadonang was a cultural and spiritual leader of the Rongmei community from the early 20th century who fought for an independent ‘Makan Gwangdi’ from the British.
CorCom, in a release, said that Jadonang fought against the atrocities of the British and organised a freedom movement for an independent ‘Makan Gwangdi’. After the British defeated Manipur in 1891, Jadonang worked towards preserving the culture and traditions of Zeliangrong.
Jadonang was born to Thiudai Malangmei and Tabonliu Dangmei in 1905 at Puilon (Kambiron) village of Tamenglong district, to the Malangmei clan of Rongmei community. Jadonang worked towards uniting Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei as Zeliangrong under the Heraka movement. He was the first amongst the hill brethrens who wanted an independent land for the Zeliangrong, the release added.
Jadonang travelled throughout Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, inhabited by Zeliangrong to spread his dream of an independent ‘Makan Gwangdi’. He also spread the message of an independent land to the neighbouring village also.
The release also highlighted how Jadonang defied the atrocities and racial discrimination that the British imposed upon its subjects. In 1928, he was arrested by the SDO of the North West Sub Division, Tamenglong, SJ Duncan and lodged in the Tamenglong jail for a week.
Jadonang also tried to utilise religion and administration to fight against the British. Tingkao Ragwag and Heraka, a worship centre which he set up, were used by him to give his sermon for an “independent land”.
Convinced that Christianity was being used by the British against the indigenous way of life, he tried to reform the belief system of the Zeliangrong, the release said and highlighted how he worked towards protecting and conserving the indigenous belief system.
In 1929-30, confident of the support of the villages, Jadonang tried to launch a freedom movement. He forbade anyone from paying house tax, etc. Learning of the development, British political agent of Manipur, JC Higgins went to Tamenglong along with the Assam Rifles to arrest him. Jadonang along with around 600 of his followers were captured on February 19, 1931, when they were coming back from praying at Bhavan Cave in Lakhipur, Assam.
He was brought to Imphal on March 29, 1931. And on August 29, 1931 he was hanged to death on the bank of Nambul river on charges of waging war against the British. He was just 26 years old at the time of his death.
Saluting the spirit of freedom that Jadonang embodied, CorCom exhorted the indigenous communities of the state to fight the atrocities that the people of the state are facing at the hand of India, ever since Manipur became a part of India.