Rano M. Shaiza was the first woman MP to reach the Parliament, after winning the Lok Sabha election from Nagaland. In the elections held after the Emergency in 1977, she defeated the then Chief Minister of Nagaland Hokishe Sema of the Congress. Rano was the United Democratic Party candidate. She played an important role in restoring peace in Nagaland. She is also remembered for ensuring full liquor prohibition in Nagaland. Nagaland society is women centric, women are vocal but their participation in politics was never there. Shaija is exception.
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Shaiza was born on November 11, 1928 in Phek district of Nagaland in the Angami Naga family. His father Sevilie was a doctor from the profession. Founder of Naga Separatist Movement ,Angami Zapu Phizo was brother of her Mother Vitulie Iralu. Shaiza graduated from St Mary’s College Shillong. After this she started his job as a school teacher.
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Shaiza, who lived a simple life, also played a role in ensuring full liquor prohibition in Nagaland. He founded Naga Mother’s Association. His organization raised the voice of complete liquor prohibition in the state. Nagaland Liquor Prohibition Act of 1989 was made because of her efforts. On March 29, 1990 liquor ban was implemented in the State.
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Shaiza started her political career by leaving the job of a teacher in the 1970s and joining the Naga movement. Later she was elected the first president of Naga National Council’s Women Federation. After this she was elected the first female president of United Democratic Party. During the Naga movement, she remained in jail for 19 months in the 1960s.
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Shaiza played an important role in Naga Peace Accord. She played the role of a mediator between movement leader Angami Jhapu Phijo and then Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Her role will be remembered for the peace agreement. Rano Shaiza had also contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1980, but she was defeated by just 5 thousand votes, by the Congress candidate. Shaiza remained the only female face in Nagaland politics.In Nagaland, no other women legislator could be selected in five decades. She died on April 1, 2015.