Heraka
| Haipou Jadonang | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1905 Kambiron village, British India (present-day Tamenglong district of Manipur) |
| Died |
August 29, 1931 Imphal |
| Occupation | Spiritual leader and political activist |
Haipou Jadonang (1905-1931) was a Rongmei Naga spiritual leader and political activist from Manipur, British India. He established the Heraka religious movement, and declared himself to be the "messiah king" of the Nagas. His movement was widespread in the Zeliangrong territory before the switch to Christianity. He also envisaged an independent Naga kingdom ("Makam Gwangdi" or "Naga Raj"), which brought him in conflict with the British rulers of India. He was hanged by the British in 1931, and succeeded by his cousin Rani Gaidinliu.
Haipou Jadonang was born on 10 June 1905 at Puiluan (also Puiron or Kambiron) village of the present-day Nungba Sub-Division in Tamenglong district. His family belonged to the Malangmei clan of the Rongmei Naga tribe. He was youngest of the three sons of Thiudai and Tabonliu. His father Thiudai died when he was around one year old. Taboliu, his mother brought up the three boys by farming on the family property.
Tamenglong at that time was the headquarters of Manipur North-West Sub-Division. S.J. Duncan was the S.D.O. appointed by the British Indian Government. The British Government had retained Meidingngu Churachand as the titular king of Manipur, although direct administration was in the hands of the British political agent J.C. Higgins. The Naga Hills villages were controlled by the District Commissioner J.P. Mills (an expert anthropologist) and Cachar areas were under District Commissioner Jimson. The Naga territories were thus completely under the colonial control.
From childhood, Jadonang was a deeply religious person. He used to pray to God for hours when alone. He visited places like Bhuvan Cave and Zeliad Lake, which were believed to the residence of gods and goddesses by the Nagas. By the age of 10, he had become popular among the Zeliangrong tribals for his dreams and prophecies and healing powers by local herbs and medicines. People from far and near come to Kambiron under the spell of interpretation of dreams, mysterious healing, advice and principles of reformed religion.
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