Against the backdrop of opposition to the construction of the Rani Gaidinliu museum-cum-library legislators of Kohima district including parliamentary secretary planning and art& culture including officials led by chief minister T.R. Zeliang met with representatives of Kohima Village Council and Angami Public Organisations (APO) and department officials.
According to CM’s media cell, the APO president maintained that APO opposed the project on the ground that Gaidinliu had opposed NNC and killed several NNC functionaries between 1960 to 1966 and also had not contributed anything to Nagas, as a whole.
Parliamentary secretary (W&H) Er. Levi urged restraint over making such open statements with political overtones of NNC since a stadium near Kohima has been named as Indira Gandhi Stadium during whose tenure as prime minister, “many Naga insurgents were killed by the government of India.”
Minister of forest & environment Dr. Nicky Kire opined that the museum could be used for other purposes instead of dedicating it after a single person but appealed to APO to review its objection in the larger interest of Naga society.
MLA, Vikho Yhoshu felt that there could be an option of renaming the project in order to break the impasse between the APO and state government.
MLA, Er. Kropol stated that Kohima, even though located in the heart of Angami territory and by virtue of being the state capital, belonged to all tribes of Nagaland. He said since the project was decided by the state government, the matter ought to be put to rest and allow the work to be completed. Advisor NSMDC Neiphrezo Keditsu urged both sides to seek an amicable solution as there was a solution for every problem.
Stating the “Kohima village is the father of all Naga villages”, parliamentary secretary Arts & Culture Eshak Konyak urged upon the villager elders for a more inclusive attitude. He also said the museum would be an asset to the Nagas and urged APO to review its stand.
Minister of social welfare Kiyaneilie, said that since the entire project was funded by the government of India and for which the preceding government decided to take up the work, it would be fitness of propriety, if the present government continued with the project.
Officials of planning department pointed out that the erection of Gaidinliu’s statue has been shelved as it was opined that it was a culture alien to Nagas and would hurt the sentiments of sections of society.
Officials of Art & Culture department pointed out that one of the objectives of the project was for an “open museum and exhibition hall with galleries and dioramas for preservationi and display of relics, artifacts and objects of historical importance, portraits, photos and memorabilia of not only Rani Gaidinliu but other leaders also.”
Speaking on the issue, chief minister T.R.Zeliang urged upon all to find an amicable settlement as the museum even though named after Rani Gaidinliu, was not only for her and would not be used to propagate any cult or religious sect.
He pointed out that the Arts & Culture department would manage the museum as it does with the museum at Bayavu. Zeliang reassured, that the museum would not be used to promote or propagate any religion that was alien to Nagas.
He also narrated the account of his father who was expelled from their then Heraka dominated village for becoming a Christian and the family had to settle in a Kuki village. Over the years, he said the villagers gradually converted to Christianity and now his village is a cent percent Christian village. Zeliang also opined that it would be unwise to rake up the past that Heraka militants killed NNC functionaries since NNC also killed many Heraka militants. He said since former Heraka followers had confessed and converted to Christianity, it would not go down well with those who confessed in the name of the Lord(Jesus) and became strong proponents of Christianity.
“Phizo is dead and so is Rani Gaidinliu” said Zeliang as both cannot come back to justify their actions. He also said both his aunties were widowed when his uncles were killed by Heraka militants. He urged all not to justify but “to live and let live.”
Zeliang also cited historical accounts of how in 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru gave the title ‘Rani’ to Gaidinliu when he visited her in a British jail. He said neither Nagas nor Zeliangrongs gave her the title nor did any Naga ask the government of India to accord Gaidinliu the title of Indian Freedom Fighter. He said it was given by the then Congress government in 1972.
He stated that Rani was born in Luangkao village in Manipur and a conflict took place between NNC and Heraka during 1960-66 . After Gaidinliu surrendered and came overground, he said 400 of her followers also surrendered with arms and ammunition and were inducted to the 1NAP in 1966.Thereon, he said Gaidinliu was accorded status of minister of state and was allotted a bungalow by the government of Nagaland. Gaidinliu was also given escorts whenever she travelled from Nagaland to Assam or Manipur and TA/DA was also paid by the government of Nagaland besides an allowance of Rs.10,000 every month till her death in February 1993.
Zeliang said he wished that a compromise formula could be worked out to solve the problem. He said options were open for discussions and hoped APO would also soften its stand for revising its stand on the matter.
The chief minister also visited the construction site of the Shanuoru temporary bridge with minister roads and bridges Vikheho Swu, which had to be demolished during the monsoon due to blockage of the culverts.
The temporary culvert is being constructed by the R&B department at a cost of Rs.2 crore and expected to be completed by November end this year.
CMO said the urban development department and State disaster management agency also contributed Rs.1 crore each for the ongoing work being done at war footing to ameliorate the problems faced by office goers who have to either take the Don Bosco School diversion or Meriema-Secretariat route.