IMPHAL, Dec 12: The Coordination Committee (CorCom) of the KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), RPF, UNLF & UPPK has wished the people of Manipur on the eve of Nupi Lal observation on December 12.
Extending its greetings to the people, the CorCom in a press statement has said that women of Manipur have been taking an active role in the society.
After the devastating wars against the Awa in 1817 and the British in 1891, following which the male population in Manipur had decreased, the women started taking an active role in the society.
The women of Manipur had taken active roles in the political, economic aspects of the society in an effort to find ways to regain the lost freedom after the two wars, the release said.
Elaborating further on, the statement said, in 1904, women had erupted against the introduction of forced labour, ‘Lallup Kaba’ and forced its abolition.
The statement also said that it is time for the people to remember that the women had also erupted against a steep hike in water tax during the same time.
The CorCom statement has further continued that the women started taking active roles in the agricultural related activities like the selling and buying. The Khwairamband bazar known locally as the ‘Nupi Keithel’ believed to be built by then king Khagemba Ningthpu in 1580 AD became a busy and important bazar, it said.
The 1939 ‘Nupi Lan’ movement which erupted from this very bazar can never be forgotten by the people, the statement continued.
Elaborating on the movement, the statement said, soon after Manipur came under the rule of the British, a famine like situation broke out in Manipur following the British’s policy of exporting rice to other places like Assam.
Following the famine like situation, the women initiated a movement on December 11, 1939 to bar the outsiders from collecting rice from the local traders, it said.
The enraged women folk also gheraoed the state Durbar the next day on December 12 and after holding the Durbar president, Sharp captive took him to the Telegraph office and forced him to contact the then Maharaj who was at Nabadwip at the time and stop exporting rice from the state.
Even then the women continued surrounding the rice mills declaring that they will continue to do so until the Maharaj assured to stop export of rice to the outside.
On 1939, December 16, Lamyanba Irabot reached Imphal from Cachar and along with L Kanhai and T Ibotombi and helped the women in their movement, the statement said.
The state has further cited several incidents wherein the women of Manipur had faced the adversaries with a brave face and wished the people on the occasion of the Nupi Lan anniverssary.