Kohima: A book titled ‘Media’s Projection on Rani Gaidinliu & Her Memorabilia, Kohima-Nagaland‘, published by M/s Kenz & Sons Co., was officially released by former Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), Neiba Ndang.
The book was released on January 31 at Shalom Resort, Gaili, Peren, in a solemn gathering attended by dignitaries and intellectuals.
Authored by K Elu Ndang and N Haisoyi Ndang, the book delves into the British colonial rule in India and its impact on the Nagas. The book highlights the oppression faced by the region and the resistance led by Lt Haipau Jadonang, whose rebellion against British rule ultimately led to his execution.
The book details how a young Rani Gaidinliu, at just 13 years old, took up Jadonang’s cause, dedicating her life to the struggle for self-determination. It recounts her eventual capture by the British, her exile to Yemrep, and her later years under government protection in Kohima before her passing at the age of 78 in her native Longkao, Manipur.
A key focus of the book is the fate of Rani Gaidinliu’s belongings, which were confiscated by the British and are now housed in institutions like the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, and the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.
The authors highlighted that efforts are currently underway under the DiMuse 4-year project to repatriate these artifacts to Nagaland.
The authors emphasised the importance of accurately portraying history, urging media and intellectuals to approach the legacy of Rani Gaidinliu with an unbiased perspective.
The book, they said, aims to clear the air of variable perception of the Naga intellectuals without any bias.
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