Rani Gaidinliu is remembered as one of the most courageous forgotten heroes of India.
Rani Gaidinliu was born on 26 January 1915 in a small tribal village called Longkao, located in what is now Manipur, Northeast India. She belonged to a tribal group known as the Zeliangrong Nagas, a community that lived in the hilly forests of Northeast India and had a rich culture and history.
From a very young age, Rani was brave, curious, and deeply connected to her community’s traditions. There were no schools in her village, so like many tribal children of her time, she did not receive a formal education. However, she learned important life lessons from her surroundings — the rhythms of the forest, the strength of her people, and the injustices brought by British colonial rule.
Early Life and Tribal Roots
When Rani was just 13 years old, she met her cousin, Haipou Jadonang, a spiritual leader who had started a movement called the Heraka movement. This was not just a religious revival; it was also a movement for tribal freedom and resistance against British rule. The movement focused on uplifting tribal identity, ending unfair taxes, and uniting villages under a common purpose.
Rani Gaidinliu joined the movement with passion. At that time, the British were trying to reshape tribal life, force labor, and control land. The Heraka movement stood for self-respect, culture, and resistance, and Rani inspired others by saying that losing their religion and customs meant losing their identity. She worked tirelessly to protect her people’s culture and traditions.
Leadership in the Heraka Movement
In 1931, when Rani was around 16 years old, tragedy struck. Jadonang was arrested by British authorities and hanged for leading the resistance. Instead of giving up, Rani stepped into his shoes and became the new leader of the Heraka movement, showing incredible courage at such a young age.
The British began to see her not as a teenage girl, but as a real threat. Rani rallied her people to stop paying taxes, refuse British orders, and defend their lands. Tribal volunteers gathered around her, and small clashes broke out between her followers and British troops in the hills of Assam and Manipur.
Because she was strong and determined, the British launched a massive hunt to capture her. They even offered rewards and tax breaks to villagers who helped them. Still, Rani evaded capture, moving secretly between villages. But in October 1932, she was betrayed and arrested near a village called Pulomi.
Prison Years and Courage
At just 16–17 years old, Rani was sentenced to life in prison. For the next 14 years, she was held in various British jails across Northeast India — in Shillong, Guwahati, Aizawl, and Tura. Yet her spirit remained unbroken, and she continued to inspire others through her resilience.
In 1937, the future first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited her in Shillong Jail. He was so impressed by her courage that he called her the “Daughter of the Hills” and began advocating for her release.
Life After Independence
Finally, in 1947, when India gained independence from Britain, Rani Gaidinliu was released from prison. Even then, her mission was not over. She dedicated the rest of her life to preserving tribal culture, uplifting her community, and building unity among the Zeliangrong people.
The Indian government recognized her struggle and contributions. She received the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards, along with other honors for her lifelong dedication.
Legacy and Recognition
Rani Gaidinliu passed away on 17 February 1993, but her story remains an incredible example of courage, leadership, and devotion. What makes her story especially remarkable is that she began fighting for her people and culture at an age when most teenagers were just starting school.
Her life is celebrated not only as the story of a tribal freedom fighter from Northeast India, but also as an inspiration for women leaders in Indian history and forgotten heroes of India. Her leadership in the Heraka movement and her efforts to protect tribal identity and culture make her a true icon of Indian tribal resistance against British rule.