Nupi Lan Day: Muslim women protestors of 1939 remembered Submitted by admin7 on 18 December 2011 - 7:54pm Indian Muslim

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 Commun ity Hall, Imphal East. The day was observed to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Nupi Lan (Womens War) or the womens agitation of 1904 and 1939 against British col onial exploitation, forced labour and artificial food grain scarcity. The function was graced by Mrs. Anwari Noorjahan, President of AMPWO, Ng. Deva M eetei, Secretary, HRD (UCM), Md. Kheiruddin, President, All Manipur Muslim Organ ization Co-ordinating Committee, Wahidur Rahaman, Director, All India Handloom, Govt. of India; Ch. Ibeyaima, Organizer Secretary, Kangleipak Women Welfare Asso ciation; Md. Rabi Khan, Advocate, General Secretary, MALSO; Kh. Safao Saha, Vice -President of Muslim Students of Manipur and L. Joy Khuman, General Secretary, W orkers 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 h istory of the Nupi Lan. The speakers also recalled and hailed the spirits of tho se Manipuri women who challenged the British regime by raising agitations in 193 9 against their exploitative rule. Mrs. Najma, Organizing Secretary of AMPWO, said many Muslim women vendors of Khw airamband Bazar at Imphal took active part in the womens 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 t he Nupi Lan of 1939 as the Nupi Lan Observation Committee has so far not include d any Muslim organization in the committee. She also urged to enlist the names o f 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 activi sts and students. Nupi Lan Day was also observed in many parts of the State. The State-level funct ion was organized by the State Government. State Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat , Health & Family Welfare Minister L. Jayenta and Irrigation & Flood Control Min ister 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 w omen agitators of the Nupi Lan. A State-level Nupi Lan memorial race was also or ganized. There were reports of the observance of Nupi Lan in Bangladesh, organiz ed by Ram Nagor Chaokhat Khongthang Nupi Lup. The function was attended by hundr eds 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 brav e Manipuri women who protested against the oppressive economic and administrativ

e policies of the British regime in 1904 and 1939. The first Nupi Lan of 1904 occurred when the then British Political Agent of Man ipur, H. St. P. Maxwell forced all the male population of Imphal areas to rebuil t the residential bunglow of Assistant Political Agent, which was destroyed by f ire, 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 ruler s leading to the extreme shortage of rice for the local population. Highlighting the significance of the Nupi Lan, Sanamani Yambem (Nupi Lan: Manipur Womens Agita tion, 1939 in Economic & Political Weekly, Feb. 21, 1976) writes, The Nupi Lan whi ch started as an agitation by Manipuri women against the economic policies of th e Maharaja and the Marwari monopolists, later on changed its character to become a movement for constitutional and administrative reform in Manipur. The origina l demands of the women were confined to the banning of rice exports, but later t heir 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 Manipu r 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 womens agitation of 1939 against the British and the In dian business community, popularly known as Second Nupi Lan. P. Kayamuddin wrote (in Womens Agitation and Muslim Women): It is found in the record that many Muslim women took part in the Second Manipuri Womens 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 K hwairamband Bazar had less than 100 Lukmais (basket for displaying things to sel l), 1000 vendors 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. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Mrs.

Tomba Bibi, wife of Babu, from Khergao Shajoubi Bibi, wife of Nur Ali, from Khetri Awang Leikei Safarjan Bibi, wife of Iboton, from Khetri Kunje Bibi, wife of a non-Manipuri Kulsum Bibi, wife of Chaoba Khodi Bibi, wife of Toyai, from Khergao Ibeyai Bibi, wife of Nejamun Bodon Tombi Bibi, wife of Gulap Mia Sanabi Bibi, wife of Sanatol

Source: P. Kayamuddin, Womens Agitation and Muslim Women, http//manipuronline.com/F eatures/Dec. 2002 (Translated from Manipuri by K. Kulladhaja Singh) Share Comment viewing options Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to a ctivate your changes. Reason for 1939 Nupi Lan Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 20 December 2011 - 6:33am. The reason for 1939 NUPI LAN was not because rice was exported to "rest of India ". Rice was exported to feed British Indian Soldiers. reply Share These sort of articles should Submitted by tasnim faruqi (not verified) on 19 December 2011 - 11:05am. These sort of articles should be given vast coverage to put our competitors head s down with shame to know what our elders have contributed in Freedom Struggle, and what negative picture they are projecting of ourselves. Dont leave everythin g to Allah, harket men barkat.