IMPHAL, December 12: Befitting homage was paid to the martyrs of Nupi Lal by the State, in a ceremony led by the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh, at the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex Imphal today in the morning.
The inaugural function commenced with floral tribute at the memorial site of Nupi Lal attended by the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and invitees.
Reiterating the sacrifices made by the women of Manipur against the atrocities of the British colonial administration, Ibobi said one must vow to follow the path of those valiant women to bring about a prosperous and peaceful State. He was speaking as the chief guest of the observation.
He recalled that the two chapters of women`™s uprising, popularly known as Nupi Lal, the first in 1904 and the second in 1939, were not simple agitations. The uprisings were against the oppressions meted out to the people of Manipur by the then British colonial regime in cohorts with some scrupulous traders, he said.
He further continued that the monopoly control over rice by the colonial regime to trade it off outside the State during that period resulted in man-made scarcity of the staple food of Manipuries. The women folk could not remain silent to the injustice and they took on with the British and their Assam Rifles. He added that the uprising could not only stop the monopoly control in the trade, but it brought about a social reformation in the Manipuri society.
The sacrifices made by the women in the said uprisings are still remembered by today`™s generation as the Nupi Lal, the CM added.
Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam giving his presidential speech came down heavily against the escalating crime against women in the State. He said it is shocking that in a land where historic event like Nupi Lal took place, where women who are treated as the symbol of the universal mother, such crimes have been disgraced the place`™s beautiful culture.
There will be a 3rd Nupi Lal if the current trend of dastardly crimes continues, he lamented.
He continued that it is impossible to imagine a society without mothers, the roles the mothers have played in the Nupi Lal is unrivaled. But it is extremely unfortunate that there are unwanted elements in the society, blinded by their morbid frames of mind, who have time and again assaulted the modesty of women, he said.
The deputy CM asserted that such unwanted elements, who cannot respect women and who commit heinous crime against them are a common enemy of the society. We must jointly root out the common enemy, if not the way forward to an amiable and peaceful society will be hard to achieve, he added.
He noted that commemorative day of Nupi Lal is the right day to take a joint pledge to fight against the evils of the society, more particularly against the atrocities meted to women.
A host of State dignitaries were also present during the observation, which include Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assembly, Th Lokeshor, retired Justice RK Manisana, Council of ministers and MLAs, State Chief Secretary, PC Lawmkunga, DGP, Shahid Ahmed and high ranking civil and police officers, and other invitees.
As part of the observation, a Nupi Lal play was staged by artists of Nupi Lal Memorial Association and Nupi Lal & Khongjom War Memorial Society.
Songs dedicated to Nupi Lal were also presented by the artists of Shri Shri Bal Mukunda Dev Government Music College of Imphal.