The book titled Media’s Projection on Rani Gaidinliu & Her Memorabilia, Kohima-Nagaland, published by M/s Kenz & Sons Co., was released by Neiba Ndang, former Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), on January 31, 2025. The release ceremony took place at Shalom Resort Gaili, Peren. The book was authored by K Elu Ndang and N Haisoyi Ndang.
The book highlights the turbulent period during the British colonial rule in India, shedding light on the suffering of the Naga people, who were not exempt from the brutality of colonialism. The narrative focuses on the events surrounding Lt. Haipau Jadonang, whose revolt against the British ultimately led to his martyrdom.
In the face of such adversity, Rani Gaidinliu, at just 13 years old, took up Jadonang’s unfinished fight for self-determination. Her relentless efforts to resist the colonial authorities eventually led to her arrest and exile to Yemrep, far from her homeland. She was later released in her old age and briefly stayed in Kohima under government protection before passing away at the age of 78. She was laid to rest in her native village of Longkao, Manipur.
The book also touches on the historical significance of Gaidinliu’s belongings, which were seized by the British during the colonial period and are now housed in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, as well as the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Efforts are currently underway to return these artifacts to Nagaland as part of the DiMuse project, a four-year initiative.
The authors state that the book aims to clear the air of varying perceptions of Naga intellectuals, providing an unbiased portrayal of Rani Gaidinliu’s life and legacy. The authors encourage media and intellectuals to consider the historical importance of the subject before forming conclusions.