Gaidinliu was born on January 26, 1915, in present-day Tamenglong district of Manipur and died in 1993. The Naga spiritual and political leader, who led an armed uprising against the British in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, belonged to the Rongmei tribe (also known as Kabui). In 1927, at the age of 13, Gaidinliu, along with her cousin Haipou Jadonang, joined the Heraka movement, which aimed at revival of the Naga tribal religion and establish self-rule of the Nagas (Naga Raj) ending the British rule.
She was arrested in 1932 when she was just 16, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British rulers. Between 1932 and 1947, the Naga freedom fighter was kept at several prisons across the Northeast.
After being released in 1947 she continued to work for the betterment of the community. Nehru described Gaidinliu as the “daughter of the hills” and he gave her the title of ‘Rani’ for her courage. She was also awarded a Padma Bhushan.
The state government has developed a park along with a statue to honour the late freedom fighter in Silchar, Assam.
The Government of India issued a postal stamp in her honour in 1996, and commemorative coin in 2015.