Haipou Jadonang

Jadonang Malangmei (1905-1931), popularly known as Haipou Jadonang, was a Naga spiritual leader and political activist from Manipur, British India.

He established the Heraka religious movement, which was based on the ancestral Naga religion, and declared himself to be the "messiah king" of the Nagas.

His movement was widespread in the Zeliangrong territory before the conversion to Christianity.

He also espoused the cause of an independent Naga kingdom ("Makam Gwangdi" or "Naga Raj"), which brought him in conflict with the colonial British rulers of India.

Haipou Jadonang Malangmei was born on 30 July 1905 Sunday 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 colonialn Government of India.

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 be 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 came to Kambiron under the spell of interpretation of dreams, mysterious healing, advice and principles of reformed religion.

Jadonang saw the growing influence of Christianity in Naga territory as a sign of foreign imperialism.

He considered it as a threat to the traditional religion and society of the Nagas.

Besides, the tribals had been suffering from continuing invasions by different powers.

The British were especially oppressive with their forced porter system, heavy hill house taxes (Rs. 3 per year), and imposition of new laws.

As he reached adulthood, Jadonang made his ideas about the revival of Naga culture to his fellow tribals.

He urged them to fight for national prestige and social change.

Jadonang established a socio-religious movement called Heraka (literally "Pure"), derived from ancestral Naga practices known as "Paupaise".

At a time when Christianity and Vaishnavism of Manipur were trying to make inroads into the Naga territory, Jadonang sought to standardize the traditional Naga belief systems.

The Heraka religion emphasized the worship of the supreme being Tingkao Ragwang.

In the traditional religion, this deity was acknowledged as the creator god, but was only one among the several gods and did not have much importance in everyday life.

Jadonang, on the other hand described Tingkao Ragwang as an omnipotent and omniscient god, who permeated the world as a spiritual energy.

He encouraged people to offer him regular prayers, and to sing hymns in his praise.

The other traditional deities were respected, but given less importance.

These concepts of monotheism and a centralized belief system were influenced by Christianity, and probably Islam, which were being preached in Manipur and Cachar plains.

Jadonang also abolished several superstitious taboos.

He reduced the number of ritual sacrifices, especially the ones offered to deities other than Tingkao Ragwang.

He also did away with a number of gennas (rituals), such as the ones associated with childbirth, presence of an animal in the house, disasters such as earthquake and landslides, felling of tree, and weapon injuries.

He retained the gennas associated with harvest, safety of crop from pests, and safety from animals.

Instead of focusing on rituals, Jadonang emphasized qualities that he said were pleasing to Tingkao Ragwang, such as truth, love, and respect for the entire creation.

The traditional Naga faith did not involve construction of temples.

He was hanged by the British in 1931, and succeeded by his cousin Rani Gaidinliu.