New Delhi, October 21 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Meet 2023 organised by ZSUD and ZWAD under the theme ‘Zeliangrong Solidarity: strengthening unity, culture and progress’ was held at New Delhi on October 21.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Planning & Transformation and National Highways, TR Zeliang said that the idea of organizing such a meet as this, speak volumes of the honest effort in uniting our people through people-to-people interaction.
A press release from the office of the Dy DC stated that TR in his addressed said, “Zeliangrong people living in three states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland must come together as one people with one voice.” This will reunite the fragmented Organisations in Nagaland and in Manipur which has brought humiliation to all of us. There is a time for everything- a time to start and a time to end, he said.
“I strongly feel controversies among our Zeliangrong people should also come to a logical conclusion and this Zeliangrong Meet 2023 could be a starting point to strengthen the unity of our people. It is high time that we unite and march forward to bring all the three brethren together. I am hopeful that this Zeliangrong Meet 2023 will be an inspiration for our people to move forward in unity for progress and development of our beautiful land,” he asserted.
Highlighting concerns, the Dy DM stated that the Zeliangrong people in general were sharply divided by the Britishers through artificial boundaries for which legendary figures like Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu had sacrificed their lives for Zeliangrong integration and freedom movement. “The three brethren Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei came from one family but were separated against their wishes. Our history and folk songs tell us that the three brothers lived a peaceful life with the spirit of brotherhood and coexistence and no one came in between till the Britishers discovered us and intruded our land. By the time they left, we were divided into three subsequent States with arbitrary demarcation of boundaries,” he stated.
The Dy CM said, “Today, some of us are placed under NC Hills (present day Dima Hasao) of Assam, some under Tamenlong and Senapati Districts of Manipur and some under Peren, Dimapur and Kohima Districts of Nagaland.” Prior to this act of separation by territorial division, all the three brethren were under one roof. In order to substantiate this point, there was undeniable fact that the first Naga Capital was established at Asalu which is now under present NC Hills of Assam, he added.
Stressing at length on the legacy of Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu, TR called on the Zeliangrong brothers and sisters, “to comprehend why the mission of Rani Gaidinliu was not successful?”
“According to my observation, it was not because of her shortcoming but because of non-cooperation from our people with divided Zeliangrong Organisations in the three States of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, for which I need, not explain in detail,” he said.
“There was great opportunity and we could have achieved our aspiration when she, along with her Army, surrendered at Tening Village in 1964 with verbal assurance from Government of Nagaland & Government of India that her dream will be fulfilled through peaceful dialogue without arms. Unfortunately, we missed the bus because the Christian population went against Heraka (religion) at that point of time leaving aside the main issue. We should not have mixed up religion with her dream and political aspiration for the Zeliangrong people. However, bygone is bygone and now we should think on how to carry forward her mission,” he highlighted.
Putting across a question to other Nagas present in the function, TR said, “If Zeliangrong people reunite and live together under one umbrella in our own land and for that matter, if the Konyak people also come together from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland; is it not fulfilling part of the Naga’s aspiration for integration? Or should we wait for all the Nagas to come together at one go under one umbrella? Or should we wait for another brave lady like Rani Gaidinliu to be born in Zeliangrong soil? My dear brother and sisters, the choice is yours because no one can force you in this democratic system.”
He also called upon the ZSUD and ZWAD to set up a ‘Grievance Cell’ for the Zeliangrong people, particularly youngsters studying or working in Delhi. He suggested that members of this ‘Grievance Cell’ from ZSUD and ZWAD can collaborate with the local Police here, particularly SPUNER (Police Unit for safety & security of people from North Eastern States residing in the Capital) which has already set up a landline and WhatsApp number to quickly respond to distress appeals.
