Spiritual leader and political activist Haipou Jadonang remembered, Silchar

Our Correspondent

Silchar: Residents of Rongmei village in Binnakandi Part II fondly remembered Haipou Jadonang, a spiritual leader and political activist, on his death anniversary recently.

He was born on June 10, 1905 at Puiluan village in Tamenglong district in Manipur. He was the activist claiming himself to be Naga Raj against British rule in tribal areas mostly in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.

He fought against the imposition of taxes and asked his followers to pay taxes to him for the fiscal year 1931-32 and urged them to fight for national prestige and social change. On February 19, 1931, he was arrested by the British political agent J C Higgins in Lakhipur. He was imprisoned in Silchar jail after being arrested while he was returning from Bhuban Cave with Rani Gaidinliu and 600 other followers.

A month later, Jadonang was brought to Imphal jail on March 19. He was declared guilty of the murder at a trail headed by authority of British occupation of India on June 13, 1931. He was hanged to death on August 29, 1931 at 6 am on the banks of Nambul river behind Imphal jail. The meeting was over by Kangbung Rongmei. Among others who spoke at length on the life and times of the great leader included Gopal Rongmei, Kagachung Rongmei, Thomas Rongmei and Purnima Rongmei. All present paid their floral tribute at the portrait of Haipou Jadonang.