By Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: All Manipur Muslim (Pangal) Women Organisation (AMPWO) observed Nupi Lan Ningsing Numit (Nupi Lan Day) on 12th December 2011 at Kairang Khabeisoi Community Hall, Imphal East. The day was observed to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Nupi Lan (Women’s War) or the women’s agitation of 1904 and 1939 against British colonial exploitation, forced labour and artificial food grain scarcity.
The function was graced by Mrs. Anwari Noorjahan, President of AMPWO, Ng. Deva Meetei, Secretary, HRD (UCM), Md. Kheiruddin, President, All Manipur Muslim Organization Co-ordinating Committee, Wahidur Rahaman, Director, All India Handloom, Govt. of India; Ch. Ibeyaima, Organizer Secretary, Kangleipak Women Welfare Association; Md. Rabi Khan, Advocate, General Secretary, MALSO; Kh. Safao Saha, Vice-President of Muslim Students of Manipur and L. Joy Khuman, General Secretary, Workers’ Union, Manipur.
Nupi Lan Complex in Imphal
At the function rich tributes were paid to those Manipuri Muslim women who took part in the Nupi Lan of 1939. Many of the speakers at the function related the history of the Nupi Lan. The speakers also recalled and hailed the spirits of those Manipuri women who challenged the British regime by raising agitations in 1939 against their exploitative rule.
Mrs. Najma, Organizing Secretary of AMPWO, said many Muslim women vendors of Khwairamband Bazar at Imphal took active part in the women’s agitation of 1939. Some of the Muslim women were involved in the demolition of the Kasturi Godown, while some even went to jail. She further expressed that AMPWO has been observing the day since last year specially to remember those Muslim women who took part in the Nupi Lan of 1939 as the Nupi Lan Observation Committee has so far not included any Muslim organization in the committee. She also urged to enlist the names of those Muslim women who took part in the Nupi Lan of 1939 in the official list.
The function was attended by many Muslim women, community leaders, social activists and students.
Nupi Lan Day was also observed in many parts of the State. The State-level function was organized by the State Government. State Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat, Health & Family Welfare Minister L. Jayenta and Irrigation & Flood Control Minister N. Biren attended the function. At another function organized at the Nupi Lan Memorial Complex at Imphal floral tributes were paid to the statues of the women agitators of the Nupi Lan. A State-level Nupi Lan memorial race was also organized. There were reports of the observance of Nupi Lan in Bangladesh, organized by Ram Nagor Chaokhat Khongthang Nupi Lup. The function was attended by hundreds of Manipuris scattered in various parts of Bangladesh like Sylhet, Bhanugash, Bishgaon, Dhamai, etc.
Nupi Lan Memorial in Imphal
Manipuris have been observing Nupi Lan Day for many years to remember those brave Manipuri women who protested against the oppressive economic and administrative policies of the British regime in 1904 and 1939.
The first Nupi Lan of 1904 occurred when the then British Political Agent of Manipur, H. St. P. Maxwell forced all the male population of Imphal areas to rebuilt the residential bunglow of Assistant Political Agent, which was destroyed by fire, by fetching timber from Kabaw valley, now a part of Burma.
The second Nupi Lan of 1939 occurred when the local rice was exported to Indian states by non-local businessmen (Marwaris) with the support of the British rulers leading to the extreme shortage of rice for the local population. Highlighting the significance of the Nupi Lan, Sanamani Yambem (“Nupi Lan: Manipur Women’s Agitation, 1939” in Economic & Political Weekly, Feb. 21, 1976) writes, “The Nupi Lan which started as an agitation by Manipuri women against the economic policies of the Maharaja and the Marwari monopolists, later on changed its character to become a movement for constitutional and administrative reform in Manipur. The original demands of the women were confined to the banning of rice exports, but later their demands also included changes in the Darbar and the administrative set-up. The importance of the Nupi Lan lies in the fact that it prepared the ground for the leading role played by the women of Manipur in the emergence of a new Manipur after the end of the Second War.”
Muslim women, mostly vendors of Khwairamband Bazar at Imphal, also took part and even went to jail in the women’s agitation of 1939 against the British and the Indian business community, popularly known as Second Nupi Lan. P. Kayamuddin wrote (in “Women’s Agitation and Muslim Women”): “It is found in the record that many Muslim women took part in the Second Manipuri Women’s Agitation. Those poor Muslim women earning their daily bread by selling vegetables, eggs and tobacco leaves at the Khwairamband Bazar took a great role in the agitation. In those days, when the Khwairamband Bazar had less than 100 Lukmais (basket for displaying things to sell), 1000 vendor’s seats, 2000 buyers the Muslim women coming from the periphery of Imphal town for earning their daily bread joined with sacrificial spirit in the Nupi Lan and they are honored even today.”
List of Muslim women who took part in the agitation of 1939:
The Muslim women who were jailed for destroying the Kasturi Store
1. Mrs. Sara Bibi, wife of Nur Ali, from Khergao Sabal Lekai
2. Mrs. Tombi Bibi, wife of Ibrahim
3. Mrs. Shajoubi Bibi, wife of Nurali from Khetri Awang Leikei
Those Muslim women involved in the incident of 12 Dec. 1939
1. Mrs. Yaima Bibi, wife of Amubi, from Pangkhong
2. Mrs. Apambi Bibi, wife of Usmail, from Keikhu
3. Mrs. Amubi Bibi, wife of Thambou, from Khergao
4. Mrs. Nurjahan Bibi, wife of Hamid, from Khergao
5. Mrs. Tombi Bibi, wife of Amuba, from Khergao
6. Mrs. Amulala Bibi, wife of Sangai, from Sangai Haji of Khergao
7. Mrs. Marem Bibi, wife of Sabgai Haji, from Khergao
8. Mrs. Heitol Bibi, daughter of Bibisan, from Khergao
9. Mrs. Hasi, wife of Jalan, from Khergao
10. Mrs. Jamila Bibi, wife of Toyai Bengoon Khongba, from Sabal Leikei
11. Mrs. Jamila Bibi, wife of Bashei Munshi, from Khergao
12. Mrs. Garam Bibi, wife of Suleiman, from Khergao
13. Mrs. Duli Achoubi Bibi, Maulvi Asadullah, from Poprmpat
14. Mrs. Khambi Bibi, Khamba, from Khetri Awang Leikei
15. Mrs. Meherani Bibi, daughter of Tonupa, from Khetri
16. Mrs. Leiren Bibi, wife of Kaji, from Sabal Leikei
17. Mrs. Thanil Bibi, wife of Muham, from Sabal Leikei
18. Mrs. Shara, wife of Chaoba, from Sabal leikei
19. Mrs. Guljan Bibi, wife of Siddique Ali, from Khetri
20. Mrs. Tomba Bibi, wife of Babu, from Khergao
21. Mrs. Shajoubi Bibi, wife of Nur Ali, from Khetri Awang Leikei
22. Mrs. Safarjan Bibi, wife of Iboton, from Khetri
23. Mrs. Kunje Bibi, wife of a non-Manipuri
24. Mrs. Kulsum Bibi, wife of Chaoba
25. Mrs. Khodi Bibi, wife of Toyai, from Khergao
26. Mrs. Ibeyai Bibi, wife of Nejamun
27. Mrs. Bodon Tombi Bibi, wife of Gulap Mia
28. Mrs. Sanabi Bibi, wife of Sanatol
Source: P. Kayamuddin, “Women’s Agitation and Muslim Women,” http//manipuronline.com/Features/Dec. 2002 (Translated from Manipuri by K. Kulladhaja Singh)