Makaam Foundation a Delhi-based NGO established in 2010 has launched its website zeliangrong.com on August, 22 at JNU, New Delhi with the motto “Indigenous Trailblazer.”
Benjamin Pamei, president of Zeliangrong Welfare Association Delhi dedicated the online website to Zeliangrong people and all the indigenous people of the country.
He stressed on the compelling need of the people to be connected and informed in a challenging metro city like Delhi and the needful duty of the empowered people living in Delhi to provide intellectual leadership to the people back at home for peace and stability and all round growth and development to their people living in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.
Makaam Foundation’s philosophy and visions were inspired by Haipou Jadonang (1905-1931) particularly his reassuring slogan “Makaameirui Gwangtupuni” that is, “Makaamei shall hereafter, be the King”, which enthralled the Zeliangrong Nagas to rally behind him in the struggle against British Colonial regime in the 1920s.
The visions and ideals of Haipou Jadonang have become even more convincing and relevant today especially for the indigenous people in Northeast India who have been marginalized and exploited.
Although belated, general acceptance of Haipou Jadonang by the Indian state, the Nagas and the indigenous peoples of the region as a freedom fighter corroborates the enduring vision and philosophy and the indomitable spirit of Haipou Jadonang.
Advocating the issues confronting Zeliangrong people and the indigenous peoples is the core objective of Makaam Foundation, inspired by the maxim “Speaking Truth to Power”.
The foundation resolves to lend its hands to ‘the other side of silence’- the unheard, the unseen and the sidelined sections of the society.