IMPHAL, January 10 (Agencies): Their call to arms always causes a bit of a clamour. It`s the sound of a stone being banged against an electric pole, a sound that`s picked up and transmitted between localities to bring out the women of Manipur at any hour of day or night.
The Meira Paibi — literally, women with flaming torches — is the largest grassroots, civilian movement fighting state atrocities and human rights violations in Manipur. For decades, the women have faced the state`s armed might and aggression with nothing more than their will and unity.
The movement by Meitei women began in the 1970s as a drive against alcoholism and drug addiction. The women would walk in groups at night, impose fines on drunks, and burn stocks of alcohol. Liquor was eventually banned in the state. “We`ve been fighting against drug abuse, crimes against women, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).We will continue to fight these,” says Ak Janaki Leima, a Meira Paibi leader.
In 1980, the entire state was brought under the AFSPA to counter insurgency. As innocent young men were often arrested, tortured and killed, the women took to the streets demanding repeal of the Act. Night after night, they patrolled the streets to prevent search operations by security forces. Women became the wall protecting society against violence and killings.
Meitei society is patriarchal but women play a central role. The old Manipur kingdom fought many wars and men went away to fight for months. Women filled their shoes, even trading in Imphal`s markets.
More recently, the Meira Paibi`s protests hit global headlines in July 2004 after 12 elderly Manipuri women disrobed outside Kangla Fort, where the Assam Rifles were stationed, and walked naked carrying a large banner that read `Indian Army Rape Us`. They were protesting against the rape, torture and custodial killing of a young woman, Thangjam Manorama, by Assam Rifles personnel.
“Our protest was an extreme step. But, young Manorama had been raped and murdered despite Assam Rifles issuing her family an arrest memo. We realised the Indian army would continue to misuse the Act. We decided to show our anger,” says 83-year-old Thokchom Ramani, a Meira Paibi leader. She adds the army continues to misuse the Act without fear of being held accountable for their excesses.
Ramani will receive the award along with four others: Ak Janaki Leima, L Memchoubi Devi, Y Leirik Leima and Purnimashi Leima.
It`s hard to imagine these five `imas` (mothers) transforming into a formidable force. But as one of them demonstrates, physically, it doesn`t take much. She pushes the traditional wraparound or phanek lower, fastens the `khwang chet` cloth as a belt and wraps the traditional `phi` around her. A strip of cloth is made the turban. She grabs her meira, sets it aflame, and becomes a warrior for human rights and peace.
Some beautiful minds
Women formed the majority when the jury suggested names for the Lifetime Contribution Award. The names of Sewa founder Ela Bhatt and cancer specialist Dr V Shanta were mentioned, before Aruna Roy suggested Bengali activist and writer Mahasweta Devi who has worked for the rights of tribal communities and fought government moves to sell agricultural land to industrial giants at low prices.
“She is an icon for my generation,” said Roy. Anu Aga`s nominee was Sister Cyril, whose community-based approach has transformed girls` education in Kolkata. “Her work is compelling. Consider a foreign lady doing this,” said Aga. Roy talked about 96-year-old Chunnibhai Vaidya who fights inequality and land grabbing in Gujarat.
When the women of Naga Mothers Association and Meira Paibi came up, all the jurists nodded, impressed with the networks` efforts to bring peace to the troubled northeast.