Indian Tribal News Service
New Delhi
After Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Freedom Fighters Museum and Memorial Park that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a similar initiative will now take shape in the North East — in Manipur’s Luangkao village, where the tribal freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu was born and where she also died.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on November 22 lay the foundation stone (through video conferencing) for setting up the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Luangkao village, Tamenglong District at City Convention Centre, Imphal East in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda.
Born on January 26, 1915 at Luangkao Village, now in Taosem Sub-Division under Tamenglong District of Manipur, Rani Gaidinliu got associated with Naga spiritual leader Jadonang when she was just 13 years old. She went on to become his lieutenant in his social, religious and political movement.
It was during her four-year association with Jadonang (around 1926-27) that helped her prepare to take up the fight the British. After the execution of Jadonang, Gaidinliu took up the leadership of the movement and started a serious revolt against the British. She was imprisoned by the Britishers for 14 years and finally released in 1947.
Acknowledging her role in the struggle against the British, she began to be called “Rani”. She was released from Tura Jail after India got Independence. Rani Gaidinliu passed away on February 17, 1993 at her native village Luangkao.
She was awarded the Tamrapatra in 1972, Padma Bhushan in 1982, Vivekananda Sewa Samman in 1983, Stree Shakti Puraskar in 1991 and Bhagwan Birsa Munda Puraskar in 1996 posthumously.
The Central Government issued a commemorative stamp of Rani Gaidinliu in 1996. On the occasion of her birth centenary commemoration function in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a coin of 100 Rupees in her honour.
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned a Fast Patrol Vessel “ICGS Rani Gaidinliu” on October 19, 2016.
Sanctioned by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the project will come up at a cost of Rs. 15 crore. The Tribal Affairs Ministry is celebrating its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav week beginning November 15 on the occasion of freedom fighter Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary. The Museum will give a big boost to Manipur’s huge tourism potential and also lead to further development of tourism adding to the socio-economic development of the state, officials said.
