Silchar. A 15 feet fibre-made memorial statue of Rani Gaidinliu, the Naga spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against the British, will be built at Assam University, Silchar. In this regard, a Bhumi Pujan (land worshiping ceremony) was held at its site at the varsity premises on Friday (23.08.2019) in the presence of Prof. Dilip Chandra Nath, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Sanjit
Bhattacharjee, Registrar of Assam University. The ceremony was organised by National Freedom Fighter Haipor Jadonang, Rani Gaidinliu Commemoration Committee in association with Assam University.
The project has been supported by Research Scholar Forum, AU and Zeliangrong Students Union, Silchar. The statue will be unveiled on January 21 next year. The budget of the statue, to be prepared by the students of the Department of Fine Arts of Assam University, is around Rs 15 Lakhs which will be provided by the organisers. Both Prof. Dilip Chandra Nath and Dr. Sanjib Bhattacharjee spoke at length about Rani Gaidinliu and her acts of bravery and courage. Among others present included Pou K Lungthaurei, chief coordinator, Galim Rongmei, Pou Kabui King Rongmei and Gaithau Kamei.
Rani Gaidinliu was 13 when she joined the Heraka religious movement of her cousin Haipou Jadonang. The movement later turned into a political movement seeking to drive out the British from Manipur and the surrounding Naga areas. Gaidinliu was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16 and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British rulers. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru met her at Shillong Jail in 1937. She gained local popularity as Rani Gaidinliu.
Courtesy : Eastern Chronicle