Manipur observes Nupee Lal Numit, pays homage to women warriors who fought British policies

Floral tributes were paid to honour the courage, sacrifice and patriotism of Manipuri women who had valiantly fought the British

Reported by Donald Sairem

Manipur paid rich tributes to the women of the state who had valiantly fought for their countrymen and women and their rights against the British and the then Maharaja of Manipur who was a British agent.
On this day in 1939, a host of Manipuri women came together to protest the oppressive ways of the British and the then Maharaja of the state.

The Manipur Government today observed Nupi Lal Numit (Women War Day) also known as Nupi Lan Day. Nupi Lan in Manipuri means ‘women’s war’.

The government event was organised at the Nupee (also spelt as Nupi) Lal Memorial Complex in Imphal where ministers, MLAs and people from across Manipur paid rich tribute to the women for their heroism.

A Nupee Lal memorial race was also held in which hundreds of women from all age group participated.

Forest, environment and climate change minister, Thongam Biswajit Singh attended the event as a chief guest. Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and other MLAs were among the other attendees.

About the Nupi Lan Day:

On December 12, 1939, brave Manipuri women revolted against British imperialists, demanding an immediate halt to the indiscriminate export of rice from Manipur that was leading to famine and starvation. The movement soon turned an agitation against the economic and administrative policies of the Manipur Maharaja and the British.

Notably, ‘Nupee Lal’ occurred twice in Manipur’s history.

The first Nupi Lan broke out in 1904 when the women vehemently fought the order of the British to send Manipuri men to Kabow Valley to fetch timber for re-building the then Police Agent’s bungalow after it was ravaged by fire. The women resisted the forced labour. Over 5,000 women took part in this protest that lasted for about a week.

The second Nupi Lan was set off by the indiscriminate export of rice from Manipur by Marwari business men with the support of the colonial government. It resulted in a famine-like situation in Manipur even though it was harvest season.

The fights put up by the Manipuri women lasted for several months but subsided as a result of the outbreak of Second World War. Several women lost their lives in the protests.

Copy edited by Lipika Roy

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