A tribute note on the 93rd Jadonang Martyr’s Day
The mortal remains of Jadonang returned to the dust, but his name is immortal. His spirit of heroism and of patriotism remains alive forever in the chronicles of the people. His deeds of valour have made for him an indelible history, a monumental one. It has become a beacon of courage and hope for his kindred people, Nagas and all Indians.
The life of Jadonang was no different or difficult for anyone to live as to die for. His bravery was evident as fortune had favoured him to face the force of enemy and breathed the life of patriotism in his life time. It was an inevitable circumstance so mystic for our time to think of, that Jadonang was circumstanced to face the tyranny of the British. The fiercest moment for any human could have, destined his life. He was born to die the death of martyrdom that posterity may find hope, pride and freedom in their time.
Whenever and wherever a novel circumstance begins to quicken the mind, the spirit of daring action and noble service finds space in life. Many accounts and assets of Jadonang attribution are kept hidden from the minds of the people for lack of social conscience, education and conscious concern for wellbeing of the society and nation. When man’s consciousness is quickened to think and act of benevolence, society and nation will wake up to enlightenment of human civilisation. For lack of noble thinking and humane love, humanity is failing and falling. An individual character can create a magnetic influence over the society for good to prevail above the evils of life. Jadonang was one whose character was mostly misread or ignored and left neglected or rejected by negative society. Nevertheless, he was born with rare characteristics so matchless of his contemporaries. His gentleness, honesty and truthfulness to his conscience and duty bore him a lofty stature to be distinguished by the mighty British Empire under which kingdom, there was no sunset.
The life of a noble man is a great treasury of wealth when wisely reflected. The evil is infinite, but the good is eternal. To be good or evil lies in man, of what he thinks and inclines to what he like. The most glaring and glorious deeds of men of the past cannot be extinguished by just an act of ignorance or adamant refusal to be recognised and honoured. However, strong the demeaning forces to destroy one good deed, the act of benevolence done cannot be erased or destroyed by ignorance or wilful refusal to embrace it. The life of Jadonang is written indelibly in history.
The Naga Raj movement was a threat to the presence of the British in the then Naga Hills and the whole of the empire of the then British India. Notwithstanding the British subtle policy and power, the truth and the spirit of the movement could not be kept undercover or finished by any force of deception or military power. When the spirit of a noble man acts, the wind and the wave of oppositions cannot rend the force of truth in action. The act of justifying the death of Jadonang as they alleged or implied cannot withstand the truth of the spirit that has moved him to face the force of fierce adversity. No matter how strong and wild opposition he met that shook him to recant or forfeit his stand, he withstood the test of time and proved his stand unshakeable even the blow of death appeared heedless and naught.
The character of a man is his identity and is the quality of his nation. When Louis XIV asked Colbert, how such a great and populous a country as France could not conquer a small country as Holland? He replied: “Because, sire, the greatness of a country does not depend upon the extent of its territory, but on the character of its people”. Without the integrity of individual character, no strength, no cohesion or soundness of a nation can be formed. When national character ceases to be upheld, that nation may be regarded as next to lost. The height of a nation can be measured only by the quality of its citizens. “Nations are not to be judged by their size anymore than individuals” said Samuel Smiles. The people of Israel were small and yet they have influenced and developed the destinies of mankind not by the size of their territory or population but the integrity of its citizens. Greece was comparatively a small nation yet great in art and literature, philosophy and patriotism that Greece has been looked upon as the lighthouse of knowledge and enlightenment of the world. What then is the value and virtue of our nation to reckon upon for her greatness and novelty?
The history of human race has been made in the face of fierce opposition and most critical situation, and achieved by men of noble character. Jadonang was a man of peculiar character born of a woman rare and modest in nature untrained, but convicted of moral conscience clear with obligation to God and mankind her duty and role towards her society. “The millstreams that turn the clappers of the world arise in solitary places” (anon).
Jadonang has laid the foundation of freedom for his posterity but he paid for it with his dear life. Man of this stamp and personality inspires humanity in time past, exhibits character in its heroic aspect that continues to inspire and present to us of noblest spectacles to be seen and experienced in history. True revolutionary lives sacrificed and martyred in our generation will inspire and motivate our posterity. Washington left behind him, one of the greatest treasures of his country, the example of a stainless life, of honesty, purity and of noble character a model for his country. Men of such are true lifeblood of the nation to which they belong. Their names are the pride of the country; an immortal treasure of modality and character shines in its highest prestige. We too can create a history of pride and glory for our nation.
Gwangphun Gangmei
Social Research & Peace Activist
scanetworking@gmail.com.