Rani Gaidinliu - Rebellion and Incarceration

Rebellion and Incarceration

The revolutionary movement of the western hills of Manipur popularly known as the Naga Raj movement gained momentum with the arrival of guns from Cachar, Assam and the boycott of British taxes and forced labor. However as the movement gained traction, Haipou Jodonang was arrested and subsequently hanged on 29 August 1931 at Imphal jail by the Britishers. Following Jadonang's execution, the responsibility of the movement fell on Gaidinliu who took up the leadership of the movement and became the spiritual, social and political successor of Jadonang.

She went underground along with her followers. The British authorities launched a manhunt for her and a Rs. 500/- reward was announced for information leading to her arrest. Her people in Manipur, Cachar, North Cachar and Naga Hills of Assam stood firm behind her. She was finally arrested from Poilwa (Pulomi) village in modern Nagaland on 17 October 1932 by a British Army team led by Captain Mac Donald.

Following a trial, she was convicted on the charges of murder and abetment of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1933. From 1933 to 1947 she served time at the Gauhati, Shillong, Aizawl and Tura jails. Jawaharlal Nehru met her at the Shillong Jail in 1937 and he promised to pursue her release. His statement, published in the Hindustan Times, described Gaidinliu as a daughter of the hills and he gave her the title 'Rani' or Queen of her people. Nehru wrote to Lady Aston, M.P. in London to do something for the release of Rani Gaidinliu but the Secretary of State for India rejected her request stating that trouble may rise again if Rani was released.