R. Kamei
Human beings are born free. All humans irrespective of color are equal. These are the crowning acts of God. Jadonang is no exception.
“Murderer” to his enemies, “Messiah”, to anthropologists, “Rebel” to British Empire, “Seer” to the admirers of his religious activities, “Social reformer” to Sociologists and “Freedom Fighter” to his patriotic countrymen, Jadonang, 5.4 feet tall, thin and gentle was born in the year,1905 in the little hamlet of Kambiron (or Puiron) on the Nungba hill, overlooking the Barak river in the west and southern part of the Zeliangrong country of Tamenglong district in the west capital town of Imphal, Manipur. In this peaceful, quiet and calm, restraint-free, protected by the beautiful landscape of mountains, gorges and river valleys, is where grew up a Rongmei-blooded, Jadonang, the unsung hero. Advent of British colonialism disturbed the tranquility; seized the freedom. Oppression begins. Insurgency awakes. Jadonang is ready.
His insurgency as a Rongmei Naga-blood against the British colonialism though short-lived, had a great impact on the British Empire as well as in the mind of the great Indian leaders as much as it is in the mind of Zeliangrong people today. Irrespective of territorial coverage of his movement and operation, the nature of sources testified he fought and died for “Naga Raj.” India recognized him as a figure of Co-Naga Indian freedom fighter for fighting against the British as Phizo was once when he helped Netaji Subhas and his INA in Burma in I943 and by whose immense inspiration finally shaped his political vision and destination that came to concrete in 1946 as Naga National Council. As first and foremost objective of Phizo was the unification of all Naga tribes, Indian leaders, like Nehru and Gandhi, likewise considered Phizo simply as one of the collective leaders of Naga Indian freedom fighters including Jadonang though we think they are not just because they helped India. As a matter of fact, the impact of great influence fell on Indian leaders was not only from Phizo’s help but also from Jadonang and Rani Gaidinlu’s visible and remarkable historical help. The only difference is that Jadonang’s movement started earlier and unfinished earlier whereas Phizo’s NNC started later and unfinished till today. The reason behind the delay of Nagas aspiration today is that Government of India always thinks that the efforts of Phizo, Jadonang, and Rani Gaidinlu were just a collective help towards Indian freedom movement and grant of Nagaland state is the trophy of it. This Trophy belongs to Jadonang and Rani also. Because at that time all the Nagas were fighting in the name of Nagas and for the cause of all Naga inhabited areas before slicing away the Nagas areas of Manipur state.
Jadonang’s movement, although it is little bit obscured to ascertain the actual beginning of his revolt, it is presumed it might have started around the year after the Kuki-Rebellion of 1917-19. For, during the Kuki-Rebellion, Zeliangrong people, particularly Rongmei Nagas were suffered much. Clashes in several villages caused misery and death to many Rongmeis. Forcibly occupation of their lands and forests compounded another factor for intolerance. On the other hand, inaction of British protection for the people of Zeliangrong had added more bitterness and hatred in the mind of the common people of Zeliangrong. Why Jadonang be exception in his young blood? Even after the suppression of the Kuki-Rebellion, the British policy of leniency did not disrupt anything against the Kuki villages, nor meted out any drastic action against them. As a result, confidence of the Zeliangrong people in the justice of the British Government was totally shaken by their pro-Kuki policy. Therefore, it is not surprising that any effective platform for a better political future would be welcomed by the long suffering of Zeliangrong people.
Nevertheless, Zeliangrong people though long before the birth of Jadonang were already in oppression in the hands of British government for imposition of house-tax and unjust forced labor to the British touring officials in the form of Pothang Bekhari and Pothang Senkhai; refusal to do it could not be taken to mean freedom movement had already initiated. Merely on the ground of refusing to pay tax or denying the forced labor do not make complete sense of considering initiation of freedom struggle. Thus, the presumable conclusive turning point led to the initiation of Jadonang’s movement could undoubtedly be the Kuki-rebellion and pro Kuki policy of British which usually termed as ‘Divide and Rule’ policy.
INITIATION OF MOVEMENT
As the childhood life of Jadonang was associated with awe and wonder, mystic, and extraordinary, there was no doubt that he had been regarded as “Seer of Kambiron.” His wide spread fame and popularity of his religious activities, particularly of being practiced of prophetic-like trances, predictions, dream interpreted, healing of sickness by which brought social unity had no doubt given him a place of fear, position, and respect to be the undisputed leader to depend on. Who will not be wanted under his godlike man leadership?
Being leader under the role of “Seer,” in 1928, he made a prediction of overthrowing British Raj and setting up of Makam Gwangdi (Naga Raj). The idea of Makam Gwangdi of Jadonang aroused new hope to his people who were oppressed and dejected under alien rulers. He dauntlessly made a slogan, “Makam will be the king.” Makam Gwangdi, according to him was something like a utopian kingdom where there is no sickness, no suffering, no war, no famine, and no forced labor. Graham Bowler described it “Millennium on Earth.” He enlivened courage to his followers; “Meiteis have their king; Indians have their own kings, why shouldn’t we have our own? All men are equal and created by God; our days have come: Our powerful weapons are kept hidden by god at Zeilat Lake. We shall pray God and by his grace we can become kings”
Regrettably, out of personal enmity, someone among the Zeliangrong brothers, perhaps working under the British government of Manipur, reported secretly of Jadonang’s vision. As soon as this objectionable remark and claim reached to the knowledge of British government of Manipur, Jadonang was immediately arrested and imprisoned him for 7 days at Tamenglong Jail. But sensing the detention of Jadonang might cause outburst of mobbed violence and create serious law and order problem, he was released soon after 3 days with warning of stopping all his activities against the British government. But Jadonang fuelled by the action became bolder and relentless to carry on his movement against the colonialism even at the point of death. In addition to that, his arrest and imprisonment on the other hand had enhanced his fame and popularity, far and wide to the countries of all Zeliangrong. By 1929, he had consolidated his position in complete to get ready to fight the British Empire at any cost to regain the lost God-gifted human freedom and equality. “Seer of Kambiron” of religious element has now declared himself as a political ‘Messiah-King” to oust the oppressors, i.e., Kuki and British, and thus set up his headquarter at Kambiron village. Waw!
As “Azaad Hind Fauz” is to Subhas Chandra Bose, “Riphen” is to Jadonang’s military Force. To subscribe to his Force and movement, an option for military alliance in the form of a spear was sent out to all the villages through his agents according to the then prevailing Zeliangrong custom; and acceptance of the spear by the village signifies acceptance and confirmation to his leadership and military alliance. ”Riphen” was formed quota wise from every village of the Zeliangrong. Big village; big quota and small village; small quota. It was said, strength of “Riphen” had reached up to 500-600.
Funds were raised from different villages of Zeliangrong as far as Cachar (Assam). Boys and Girls were recruited and gave military training at Nungkao and other selected villages. Arms and ammunition were procured. Guns and bullets were smuggled in. According to one of his followers, about 30 muzzle loading guns were collected; Sources said about 82 guns were in the possession of all Zeliangrong villages. Black smithy was established by which daos; spears, arrow, and other implements etc were beaten out and made. It was said, he tried to collect even magical sword ‘Kongsai Bang’ that has immense power of destruction and spear called ‘Phentubui’ from the deep of Zeilat Lake. It was also rumored that God Bishnu granted him iron-like black stone thunderbolt gun.
Recruits were given military discipline like drill and taught strategies, and carried out with him lists of targets while touring from village to village in the name of treating sick persons. They were trained of art of sending secret messages from one place to another place in code names. To arouse more enthusiasm and boldness, patriotic songs and dances of war were taught. Besides, complete refusal of payment to the imposition of house tax was continued even at the cost of enforcement of fine. Unjust law of forced labor was still denied, as it was already abolished in Imphal in1913 due to much opposition. In this way, in all fronts, preparations were going on in intensity of action in the Zeliangrong countries without any notice of the British government in Manipur and Assam for sometime.
By 1931 he decided to declare final war at British Empire. In this connection he made his last pilgrimage to Bhuvan Cave (Cachar) accompanied by Gaidinlu along with a contingent of 600 Naga boys and girls to have communion with God. On the other hand, when Jadonang was away to Cachar, D.C. of Naga Hills district of Assam, based on the urgent nature of the report of Kuki Mauzadar, reported to J.C. Higgins of Manipur that Jadonang had declared King and all the Zeliangrong Nagas also accepted to it and they were ready to wage war against the British and the Kuki even leaving aside all their domestic affairs. This urgency of the report had aroused all the Kukis in Zeliangrong areas with apprehension that they also reported to the government even mentioning the name of the first village (Saipimol) to be attacked and thus requested for safety security.
Taking the seriousness of the report, J.C. Higgins sent immediately a few Manipuris, Kabui officials, a Manipuri Lambhu (Dhobasi) and two Rongmeis Lambhus of Kambiron for arrest of Jadonang thinking that he is in his village, Kambiron. When he later learnt he is in Cachar, he informed D.C. of Cachar to arrest Jadonang stating he is in Bhuvan Cave. The plan made. Jadonang was arrested on the river bank of Barak on 19th February 1931 when he was going to a Muslim Police Officer on his invitation which Gaidinlu had prevented him not to go. His followers all fled to Binakandi and in different directions to the hills of Tamenglong. He was arrested under Section 108 of IPC. Jadonang was kept in Silchar jail. Bail was tried but rejected saying that his case belongs to the state of Manipur.
After getting the news of Jadonang’s arrest, J.C. Higgins with a column of platoon of Assam Rifles under Major Bufield and Gorkha officer with 190 coolies marched to Kambiron through Bishenpur on the Cachar road and arrived at Kambiron. Higgins and Bufield visited Jadonang’s house and temples and burnt them down. One python snake of Jadonang was also said to have shot dead.
Then, the column went down to Jirighat to receive Jadonang from the Assam authorities. Jadonang was taken to Nungkao and then to Tamenglong, and then brought to Imphal on 19th March, 1931. It was a saddest march that Jadonang, the leader of freedom, religion, and social, chained with hands and legs, without any shirt except a little shawl wrapped at his waist was brought along the Imphal Kangchup road to Khwairamband bazaar and to Imphal Jail. Thousands of market women at bazaar looked at him sorrowfully.
Time had come. Jadonang, languishing in jail, had heard his verdict. Legal defense was denied. The judgment declared. The execution fixed.
Comes 29th August; 1931, morning at 6 am. The nature looks gloomy. Jadfonang is brought out of jail. Taken to the scaffold prepared between the two mango trees on the bank of Nambul River behind Imphal jail. Head covered. Rope put. Countdown begins. Time ticking. ……5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Zero! Hang! Hanged. Wailing heard.
Oh, Jadonang, if you would have lived longer!
