46 Facts About Haipou Jadonang

Jadonang Malangmei, popularly known as Haipou Jadonang, was a Naga spiritual leader and political activist from Manipur, British India.

Haipou Jadonang established the Heraka religious movement, which was based on the ancestral Naga religion, and declared himself to be the "messiah king" of the Nagas.

Haipou Jadonang's movement was widespread in the Zeliangrong territory before the conversion to Christianity.

Haipou Jadonang espoused the cause of an independent Naga kingdom, which brought him in conflict with the colonial British rulers of India.

Haipou Jadonang was hanged by the British in 1931, and succeeded by his cousin Rani Gaidinliu.

Haipou Jadonang Malangmei was born on 30 July 1905 Sunday at Puiluan village of the present-day Nungba Sub-Division in Tamenglong district.

Haipou Jadonang's family belonged to the Malangmei clan of the Rongmei Naga tribe.

Haipou Jadonang was youngest of the three sons of Thiudai and Tabonliu.

Haipou Jadonang used to pray to God for hours when alone.

Haipou Jadonang visited places like Bhuvan Cave and Zeliad Lake, which were believed to be the residence of gods and goddesses by the Nagas.

Haipou Jadonang considered it as a threat to the traditional religion and society of the Nagas.

Haipou Jadonang urged them to fight for national prestige and social change.

Haipou Jadonang established a socio-religious movement called Heraka, derived from ancestral Naga practices known as "Paupaise".

At a time when Christianity and Vaishnavism of Manipur were trying to make inroads into the Naga territory, Haipou Jadonang sought to standardize the traditional Naga belief systems.

Haipou Jadonang encouraged people to offer him regular prayers, and to sing hymns in his praise.

Haipou Jadonang reduced the number of ritual sacrifices, especially the ones offered to deities other than Tingkao Ragwang.

Haipou Jadonang did away with a number of gennas, such as the ones associated with childbirth, presence of an animal in the house, disasters such as earthquake and landslides, felling of tree, and weapon injuries.

Haipou Jadonang retained the gennas associated with harvest, safety of crop from pests, and safety from animals.

Haipou Jadonang claimed that the Bhuvan god told him in a dream that this would result in good health and prosperity.

Besides its religious aspects, Haipou Jadonang's movement had a political aim: he wanted his people to forget the past hatred of the inter-village feuds and communal tension, and unite against the foreigners.

Haipou Jadonang had heard about Mahatma Gandhi's plans for civil disobedience movement in India, and wished to expressed solidarity with him.

Haipou Jadonang traveled across the Zeliagrong region, and a part of the Angami territory.

Haipou Jadonang dressed similar to the British officials of the region, and rode a pony just like them.

In 1928, the SDO asked Haipou Jadonang to remove his hat and dismount from his pony.

Haipou Jadonang considered this as an act of subservience, and refused.

The SDO brought him to Tamenglong, where Haipou Jadonang was interrogated and ordered to be imprisoned for a week.

The army often traveled with Haipou Jadonang, and participated in Heraka religious ceremonies.

Haipou Jadonang composed songs praising the anti-colonial struggle, which were taught by his disciple Gaidinliu.

Haipou Jadonang sent the Riphen members to all the Zeliagrong tribes, seeking alliances against the British.

Haipou Jadonang succeeded in gaining allegiance from the Zeliangongs of North Cachar Hills, Naga Hills and Tamenglong Sub-Division.

Subsequently, Haipou Jadonang reached out to other Naga tribes including the Angamis, Chakhesangs, Rengmas, Maos and Marams.

Haipou Jadonang personally visited some of potential allies, but did not have as much success as he had with the Zeliagrongs.

In January 1931, the British officials received reports that Haipou Jadonang was planning to declare a war against them by the end of that year.

On 19 February 1931, Haipou Jadonang was imprisoned in the Silchar Jail, after being arrested while returning from the Bhuvan cave with Gaidinliu and 600 other followers.

The news of Haipou Jadonang's arrest caused unrest in the Naga territory.

Haipou Jadonang arrested many elders, confiscated guns from the villagers and imposed heavy fines on several villages in the region.

Haipou Jadonang then arrived in Jirighat, where the police handed over Jadonang to him.

Haipou Jadonang was to be taken to Imphal, the capital of Manipur.

Haipou Jadonang went all the way up to Tamenglong, showing a chain-bounded Jadonang to people, in order to demonstrate that the Heraka leader did not possess any divine powers.

At the Imphal jail, Higgins interrogated Haipou Jadonang, who denied all the charges against him and refused to provide any information about the anti-British movement.

Haipou Jadonang stated that the decision to kill the traders had been taken by the whole village, not just him.

Higgins summoned some villagers, who testified that Haipou Jadonang was responsible for the murders.

At the time of the murders, Haipou Jadonang himself was at Longkao to celebrate a customary house of Ahongyum.

On 13 June 1931, Haipou Jadonang was declared guilty of the murders at a trial by the British Indian authorities.

Haipou Jadonang was hanged to death on 29 August 1931 at 6 am, on the bank of the Nambul river behind the Imphal jail.

Haipou Jadonang's body was taken to his native village Puiluan, where it was buried in accordance with Naga traditions.