Manipur and Kachari kingdoms to his advantage. In other words, he was able to visualize for organising political authority for his people in the light of his scanty knowledge of British, Meitei and Kachari art of governance. His Naga Raj Movement was viewed as a direct challenge to colonial power in Manipur. So, he was arrested on the 19th of February 1931 and under false accusations of murder he was hanged by the British on the 29th of August of the same year in Imphal, Manipur. But still he is honoured even today.

An organised political authority is a new idea for the Nagas particularly for the cognate tribes of the Zeliangrong to which Haipou Jadonang belonged – Zemes, Liangmeis, Ruangmeis and Puimeis ‘The Makaam Guangdi’ – ‘Naga Self Rule’ or ‘Makaam Guang’ – King of the Makaams is a political concept derived from a prophecy of god – Bishnu or Bisnu. This semi – myth tradition says that while the forefathers of Zeliangrong lived in Thanlon and Henglep sub – divisions of Churachanpur, Manipur, the god prophesised that a Makaam Guang would be born for the Makaams (the term ‘Makaam’ seems to seminally imply the cognate tribes of the Zeliangrong)

c.    Proclaiming that no tax was to be paid to the British Government and forced labour be made applicable to touring Government servants. What a daring challenge to such a mighty ruler.

His movement, from all accounts, was primarily politically motivated and worked towards a political goal.

The British took it as a political struggle and considered it to be a potential danger – a challenge to the imperialist power. They did not, from the beginning, take it as a law and order problem.

We have to remember that the British had already inked in their records about the politically potential danger of Haipou Jadonang about three years before his arrest on the 19th of February 1931. He was put behind bars at Tamenglong for predicting the end of the British rule. Examining British action against Jadonang’s subsequent activities, it is almost a truism that the incident of his first imprisonment in 1928 became a denouncement of his mission. That is to say, the British could understand his anti – British political goal by taking a cue from the background of the first incident. The understanding was correct because his goal was primarily political rather than socio – religious.

Haipou Jadonang began intensifying his political mission after his release on the 8th of December 1928. J. P. Mills, the then Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills reported to N. A. Crosgrave, the Chief Secretary of Assam on the 12th of February 1931 about Haipou Jadonang.

The contents of these reports painted Jadonang as anti – British and as an anti – British leader which he actually was.

Dr. Benjamin Gangmei

In addtion

J. P. Mills, DC of Naga Hills reported: