S. Kamson
Chairman, Zeliangrong United Front
At the very outset, I send my greetings to all my Zeliangrong people in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland on the occasion of the 86th Martyr Anniversary of Haipou Jadonang. Haipou was mercilessly executed on the 29th of August 1931 by the British colonial government due to his defiance against the exploitation and subjucation of his people by the alien power. His famous slogan “ Makaammei ruigwang tu puni” which means “ the sons of the soil will reign” has been an inspiration to all indigenous people in the north east India.
Haipou Jadonang’s movement was to establish the self Rule of the Nagas or the indigenous people which the Bristish termed it as ”Naga Raj” which attracted large numbers of people from the Zeliangrong Nagas and other kin tribes in the region. It was unthinkable at that time that, in a village of Puiluanh, a village lad who could rose up against the oppressive policies of mighty British in the form of Forced labour, imposition of taxes,forced subscription and various form of exploitations against the natives. After the Martyr of Haipou Jadonang, Rani Gaidinliu took up the leadership to continue the movement.
However, she was also arrested in 1932 and was awarded life imprisonment for her rebellion. After her release from jail, she began to work for the integration of Zeliangrong people and land into a single administrative unit. Under her leadership, Zeliangrong People’s Convention was formed in 1980 to demand Zeliangrong Homeland for the Zeliangrong people living in contiguous areas in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.For the sake of bigger Naga dream for sovereignty, Zeliangrong movement was kept in abeyance.
Meanwhile, our ancestral lands and resources were misappropriated by state governments and other neighbouring communities. Oil exploitation was going on in Zeliangrong areas without the pre informed consent of the landowners. Also Tipaimukh Dam was being constructed against the wishes of the Zeliangrong and other affected people in the region which will eventually wiped out all sites of Zeliangrong common folklore and cultural heritage.
Recently the government of Manipur had further segregated Zeliangrong areas under new districts such as Kangpokpi, Jiribam and pherzwal where the Zeliangrong people are minority in each district.
Meanwhile, in Nagaland, there was an unsolicited settlement in Ntangki Reserved Forest and forceful attempt to destabilize Zeliangrong areas around kievibi and kehoi village,near Mhainamtsi village Peren District where large scale rubber plantation was destroyed was a matter of great concern to the Zeliangrong people. Zeliangrong people are fully convinced that as long as they are held under the present political dispensation of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, their concerns and interest will never be addressed to by the respective states.
Therefore, following the resolution of 7th Convention of ZPC held at Peren town on 28th May 1993, whereby it Was reaffirmed to intensify the ZPC movement for the Zeliangrong state or Homeland and also authorized to ZPC youth front to lunch a movement and take up appropriate measures for realization of Zeliangrong state/ Homeland. Meanwhile, as a continuation of the effort leaved behind by our Zeliangrong leaders, the Zeliangrong United Front had submitted a Memorandum on 18th April, 2013 with a demand to grant Zeliangrong State to the Government of India and to ensure that the long cherished dream of Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu be respected and realized according to the desire of the Zeliangrong people. Therefore, on this Martyr’s Day of Haipou Jadonang, I appeal to the Government of India to seriously consider the legitimate and genuine demand of Zeliangrong people and grant Zeliangrong State at the earliest possible time.
I also appeal to all the ethnic and indigenous communities in NE India to kindly cooperate with us in realizing the creation of a separate state for the Zeliangrong people. It is our firm belief that the creation of a separate state for the Zeliangrongs will be benefit for other communities too in the region as this will bring about socio- economic and political equilibrium in the region. This is also a sincere appeal to all national political parties in India, media, intellectuals, civil society bodies of the people of NEI and all other people who have concern for the welfare and development of marginalized communities to extent their full cooperation to the democratic and rightful aspirations of the Zeliangrong people to have a separate state of their own. Zeliangrong Ringtelou
