The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) on Wednesday appealed to the general public for a mass observation of the death anniversary i.e., the Martyr’s Day of leader Haipou Jadonang on August 29.
All citizens of Zeliangrong and kindred tribes are to observe the day with solemn ceremony; flagging of black flags, lighting of candles at dusk about 6:30 pm in every household and wherever it is meant to be made, ZUF stated in a release issued by information and publicity secretary KD Gangmei.
The ZUF would like to declare a state of urgency and mass obligation to observe the Martyr's Day in demonstration of its expressed desire and ardent demand for a secured homeland as envisioned by Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu, ZUF stated.
It has been the cultural way of Zeliangrong and kindred people to honour traditional heroic and great personalities. Legendary figures and personalities are often kept in vivid memory in the form of Folktales, Folk songs, Rih Laam (War Dance) and recitations of ritual, it stated. Virtues and values of noble personalities are treasured as the rich source of historical inheritance of the people. Deeds of patriots are history read and remembered as evidences of existence and it justifies the political rights of the people, it added.
ZUF stated that the people of the region; ‘Makaammei’ refers not only to Zeliangrong but a collective kindred people of the region. “Our people have histories of struggle, resistance and suffering to the course of determining the political rights and assertion to self-governance. Haipou Jadonang known as Naga Raj recognised and recorded in the history, was one of renowned patriotic figure whose selfless deed are attributed and highly honored by the people. We have such a rich and luminous figure whose valiant deed cannot be overlooked or kept in a dark abysmal corner to be ignored or forgotten,” it added.
It is the people’s social and moral obligation to honour and pay high tribute to Haipou Jadonang for his daring example rendered for their freedom. The people of the region marks the day of August 29 every year as the Martyr’s Day of Haipou Jadonang. The people observe with a sense of gloomy and sorrow for his departure as well as honouring him for his supreme sacrifice made on the scaffold of the British tyranny on August 29, 1931 at Imphal, it stated.
ZUF stated that the Government of India has failed to reckon and account Haipou Jadonang as one of the freedom fighters of India on equal footing with the rest of recognised freedom fighters of India. Questions may be raised is to why India treated Haipou Jadonang indifferently, it stated.
The Zeliangrong and kindred people remain strong and determined to uphold and assert their rights to fight and demand for their just and due share of rights from the Government of India, it added.
