AMRIT FESTIVAL OF INDEPENDENCE "A Tribute to Heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle"

                      India's Forgotten ...? Freedom Fighter...?    

                                        Haipou Jadonang.....?

                                 Heraka Movement.....

Haipou Jadonang was a Naga spiritual leader and political activist from Manipur, British India. Who fought for freedom from the clutches of British colonial rule. He founded the Heraka religious movement, based on the ancestral Naga religion, and proclaimed himself the "Messiah King" of the Nagas. He organized the Naga people in the Zeliangrong areas which now fall in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. He also supported an independent Naga kingdom ("Makam Gwangdi" or "Naga Raj"), which brought him into conflict with the colonial British rulers of India. She organized the Heraka Army - a separate women's battalion and challenged the mighty British Empire. He taught his people to be on constant alert against the web of the British government and its covert wings. He warned his people to be alert to the missionary danger of the church. He was hanged by the British in 1931, and was succeeded by his cousin, Queen Gaidinliu.

 

Haipou Jadonang Malangmei was born on 10 June 1905. His family belonged to the Malangmei clan of the Rongmei Naga tribe. He was the youngest of three sons of Thiudai and Tabonliu. His father Thiudai died when he was about a year old. Veer Hapou Jadonang was a highly spiritual figure and a great visionary by birth. Once he was in samadhi for ten days. His parents were worried. When he awoke from the samadhi he told his mother that he was with the Supreme Lord. God asked him to carry on with his work and preach God's righteousness and his message. Jadonang was one of the first Nagas who claimed himself to be the 'Messiah King' of the Nagas to free his people from the clutches of the British. And thus, like a god-impressed man, he successfully carried out some activities against the British.

Heraka Movement

Jadonang founded a socio-religious movement called Heraka (literally "pure"), which is derived from ancestral Naga practices known as "popeise". The Heraka movement has been variously described as a religious reform movement, a cult, and a "Naga Renaissance". It also became known as the "Kacha Naga Movement", "Gadinliu Movement", Perise ("Old Practice"), Kelumse ("Prayer Practice") and Ranise ("Queen's Practice"). The Heraka religion emphasized the worship of the supreme being "Tingkao Ragwang". At a time when the Christianity and Vaishnavism of Manipur were trying to penetrate the Naga region, Jadonang sought to standardize the traditional Naga belief systems. Jadonang also abolished many superstitious taboos. He reduced the number of ritual sacrifices, especially those offered to deities other than Tingkao Ragwang. Rather than focusing on rituals, Jadonang emphasized the qualities he said pleased Tingkao Ragwang, such as truth, love, and respect for all creation.

The traditional Naga faith did not involve the construction of temples. But influenced by Christianity and Vaishnavism, Jadonang encouraged the construction of Heraka temples called "Cao Kai". He claimed that Bhuvan Bhagwan told him in a dream that this would result in good health and prosperity. Jadonang established a cave temple in Bhuvan Cave. He founded his own army and composed patriotic and devotional songs to be practiced by his army and people. He developed the Zeliangnong Hewaka Ri Igian from his ancestors after some reforms. He built the temple at Kambiron and installed the image of Lord-Mishnu i.e. Vishnu, which was destroyed by the British.

Anti British Activities

The Heraka movement faced opposition from Christian converts as well as traditional believers. In addition to its religious aspects, Jadonang's movement had a political purpose: it wanted its people to forget their past hatred of inter-village conflicts and communal tensions and unite against foreigners.

Jadonang established himself as the king of the Nagas. He traveled to the Zeliagrong region and a part of the Angami region. He dressed like the British officers in the area, and rode a pony like them. The British-appointed Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) SJ Duncan took cognizance of this. In 1928, the SDO asked Jadonang to remove his hat and get off his pony. Jadonang considered it an act of subjugation, and refused. The SDO brought him to Tamenglong, where Jadonang was interrogated and ordered to be jailed for a week. Jadonang's first arrest came a week before the Angami-led Naga Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission, requesting self-determination for the Nagas. After his release, Jadonang gradually built up an army, with 500 men and women at its peak. The army was trained in military tactics, weapons handling including guns, and intelligence operations. In addition, it also received training for civilian tasks such as cattle-grazing, farming, rice pounding and firewood collection. Jadonang gave Rifen members to all Zeliagrong tribesmen.

 

Sent in India, demanded an alliance against the British. Subsequently, the Jadonangs also reached other Naga tribes including the Angami, Chakhesang, Rengma, Mao and Maram. He personally visited some potential collaborators,But he didn't have as much success as he had with Zeliagrongs.

 

In January 1931, British officials received reports that Jadonang was planning to declare war against them by the end of that year. There were reports of secret meetings and collection of guns in Naga villages. In addition, Jadonang asked his followers to pay taxes to him from the fiscal year 1931–32. [15] By February 1931, all British officials in the area agreed that Jadonang's movement would be permanently suppressed. On 19 February 1931, Jadonang was imprisoned in the Silchar Jail while returning from the Bhuvan Cave along with Gedinliu and 600 other followers. He was arrested by the British authorities in 1931 on charges of treason and hanged under false charges of murder while he was only 26 years old. On 3 June 1931, Jadonang was convicted of the murders in a trial by British Indian authorities. He was hanged on 29 August 1931 at 6 am on the banks of the Nambul river behind Imphal Jail. His body was taken to his native village Puiluan, where he was buried according to the Naga traditions. His movement would continue under the leadership of Rani Gaidinliu, who was arrested and imprisoned by the British Indian government.