HAFLONG, Oct 10 � In connection with the celebration of Ranima Gaidinliu�s birth centenary, the Zeliangrong Heraka Association, North East India organised the third phase of the Ratha Yatra (Mass Tour) in Manipur and Silchar from Thursday to Wednesday.
The Rath Yatra started from the Heraka Temple at Lodi near Haflong on Thursday morning with the chanting of mantras by the priest in the presence of a huge gathering.
The Rath Yatra has been organised with an aim to spread the message of Ranima, the founder of Heraka Association in the line of preservation of indigenous faith and culture. Ranima was also a great freedom fighter from NE India.
The Yatra will cover places like Luangkau, Puiluon (Kambiram), Sigguilong, Oinamlong, Binnakandi, Kalabi and Subhaspur. Meetings will also be held at these places to explain Ranima�s ideology and her contribution for the wellbeing of the society.
Rani Gaidinliu, popularly known as Rani Ma, is a highly revered Naga lady for her selfless services to Naga society and her fight for the freedom of the country. She was committed to the preservation, protection and promotion of her forefather�s religion, eternal culture, customary laws and traditional village institutions.
She organised the Naga army and subsequently challenged the British empire. The British Government declared her as a terror of the North East and awarded life imprisonment to her. When Pandit Nehru approached the British Government to free her, they refused to oblige on the plea that if Rani Gaidinliu was freed, the revolt against the British empire would spread like wildfire. She came out of Shillong prison when the country gained independence on August 15, 1947.
However, it was a travesty of fate that she was not allowed to visit her people for whose freedom, religion and culture she sacrificed her prime of youth. The same reason was given that if she was allowed to return to her Heraka people, the movement for preservation, protection and promotion of her forefather�s religion and eternal culture would gain momentum once again.
