Born in Nangkao village of
Manipur, Rani Gaidinliu joined in the Indian freedom struggle of the 1920's at the age of 13 with Haripau Jadonang, the political and spiritual leader of the Nagas (people of
Nagaland) who had initiated a movement to drive away the British from Manipur. She assumed leadership of the freedom movement in Manipur when Jadonang was hanged by the British. The British tried to suppress her revolt and to capture her. Rani went into hiding. But she was arrested in 1932 and sentenced to life long imprisonment, where she had to spend 15 years. Gaidinliu was released after India gained independence and honored with Tamrapatra and Padma Bhushan awards. For her undaunting spirit and fierce fight against the usurping British, she was called 'Rani (Queen) of the Nagas,' by
Jawaharlal Nehru. Rani Gaidinliu passed away on February 17, 1993.
