Women’s Role in the 20th Century Manipur: A Historical Study

Introduction

India has a history which goes back to approximately 500 B.C. But the history of women’s movement in India begins much later in the last decades of the 19th century. Interest in women’s issues was initiated by the male intelligentsia of this period. In India women live and grow up in a male dominated society. In the pre-colonial period as well as under the colonial rule, the traditional role of women was to be subservient to men. They were not considered part of civil society and were deprived of their rights. Historically, the British conquest of India did not bring any radical change in Indian society and especially in the position of women. It was observed by the East India Company and later by the Crown that any interference in society would be regarded as an encroachment on indigenous religion and social customs and may jeopardize colonial rule. The Government of India in 1975 by forming “Committee on Status of Women” took up issues relating to women. Different approaches are adopted to examine the position and status of women in any given social structure.

  The preamble to the Constitution of India declares equality of status and provides equal opportunities to all citizens, thereby making no difference between men and women Article 14 ensures ‘Equality before law’ and article 15 prohibits any discrimination. Article 15(3) empowers the state to ‘any special provision for women and children’. State policy of the Directive Principles in Part IV of the Indian Constitution p concern to women directly an high a special bearing on Days à adequate means of status. Article 39(a) provides Right to an livelihood for men and women. But most of the women could not enjoy the benefits of the Articles of the Constitution due to

tradition bound social evils in the society. Despite constraints, women are passing through a stage of social change.

Indigenous people of Manipur are composed of a number of ethnic communities and tribes in the plain and hills of Manipur. Women in tribal areas enjoyed more freedom of movement compared to their counterparts in the valley. The evils of the dowry system and purdah system does not plague the society. Generally, in the tribal society, divorce is allowed but rarely practiced. No restriction is imposed on the life of the widow in regard to their food, clothes etc., as it is found in the case of a widow from a Hindu family. A widow is allowed to marry again. The “bride price” custom among the tribals or tribes in Manipur does not appear to have attracted the evils of the usual dowry system. But mobility of people from other states, interaction and intermixing of Customs and affluence of some families led to dowry in some cases among the Meitei society.

The economic dependence of women on men is an acknowledged reason for the low status of women. Women have to work hard; sadly their work remains invisible and marginal. Women’s physical labour which remains invisible is not counted as work.

Meitei women are not only major economic contributors but they also have a considerable voice in the political sphere. Manjusri Chaki Sircar has remarked in her book “Feminism in a Traditional Society” that in Manipur Valley, the process of Sanskritization failed to work in the socio-economic and religious areas because of the vital presence of female power, which may be described as a kind of feminism. This can be recognized in women’s individual self-reliance and collective solidarity”. The rapid increase in the number of English medium schools and also the increased number of girl students show the concern of parents for better education of their children. The impact of education is seen in the life style and size of the family.

Education is considered a potent instrument through which the process of modernization of the society could be affected. Now-a-days, in all the communities of Manipur, it is found that girls prefer to select their own life-partners and educated girls are interested in securing jobs to attain not only economic independence but to live a life free from economic difficulties. It is true that working women suffer from role conflict in a conservative society and traditional family set up. Working women have to bear unbearable burdens in the form of physical and mental strains in discharging duties at home and in jobs. There are instances of the husband’s denial of the right of the wife over her own earned money or her privileges and obligations but such a situation has been changed to a large extent due to education of women. Many educated women try to assert themselves in different situations. Education gives women mental strength and self confidence to face problems in life.

Unfortunately, illiteracy of adults especially of women stands as a stumbling block in all developmental programmes for which so much importance has been laid in Adult Education Programme, Non-Formal and Informal programmes.

18 In Manipur, women always played an Pur important role in groups all spheres of life. (The state is a home to a large number of ethnic groups, including 29 scheduled tribes.) Historical reasons greatly influenced the independent growth of these social p with varying degrees of cultural development and civilization of whom the Meiteis are the most dominant and advanced nationality.

The tribe-people, who live in a predominance position, are greatly influenced by the linguistic and cultural affinities between the Meiteis and hill-tribes of Manipur and their folk- lore.

The Meitei Pangal also settled in Manipur since 17th century and adopted the Meitei language as their mother tongue and now form an integral part of the Manipuri society. In Manipur, social harmony which is the basic requirement of a society is maintained by Manipuris unspoiled and unbroken.

Social progress is closely linked with the role women play in society. It would be impossible to discuss the past, the present and the future of humanity without dwelling on the role played by women. Women play a greater role in society that we are aware of. From early period women have dominated a role or a part in the affairs of the society, from the smallest level in the form of a family to the biggest circle of influencing the development of the state.

Due to the influence of various religions like Hinduism, Islam and Christianity which came to Manipur during different period of times in history, which brought in their taboos and belief, the status enjoyed by women of Manipur deteriorated. Still, despite this regression, the position of women in Manipur remained much better than elsewhere in India.

 The political participation of women had completely transformed their nature and pattern of life. The shy domesticated and inferior women gave way to bold, strong and confident women engaged in the public sphere. Fortunately, modern changes are taking place in a transitional phase in the societies of Manipur. “Many women have attempted to develop their lives by drawing power through external sources of financial support polity and society. Others however, have tried to sustain strength and confidence by seeking a spiritual path as well. The spirituality of women today remains a relatively uncharted area. The scholarly literature is confined to religious aspects of women’s lives, rules, roles and rituals of women in various religions, superstitious behaviour, myths and symbolic representations in art, sculpture, dance, music, cinema, television and literature or to research on religious practitioners such as Yogis, gurus and renunciants”.1

This research work also presents a sociological study of modern secular women for the purpose of understanding the nature of their roles in society, politic, economy and religion.

When academicians and activists highlight the “scarcity syndrome” experienced by a majority of the ignored and marginalized rural women in India – their struggle to procure the most basic necessities of life such as food, fuel and water, their minimal control over the conditions and the products of their labour; their passive role in the decision making process within the family – one may then wonder about the spirit that keeps these women alive and ticking. To many urban women, the positive realities of rural life and the well springs of their strength remain hidden.

The roles played by women in Manipur in different walks of life are the greatest social fabric of Manipur.

Manipuri Women played an important role in the productive process of the state and they are guardians of the state, always on the forefront defending human rights. The emergence of Meira Paibis or Women Torch Bearers in Manipur is a revolutionary phenomenon.

      In order to bring out the various roles played by the women of Manipur it is necessary to study the roles played by women belonging to different communities, because each community has its own social order that influences women by and large. They preserved their culture and social order upto and Islam. Though there are vast differences in their life styles certain extent inspite of the influence of Christianity, Hinduism and social structures, there are considerable similarities too. The high status accorded to her womenfolk is one of the prides

of Manipur. As their roles widened they are mentally, intellectually and morally equipped to tackle problems of state, terrorism, violence, conflicting problems between state and insurgents.Women in Manipur have sustained a distinct tradition of female guardianship within a predominantly male dominated society. Their participation in various social causes and religious ceremonies that are central to the cultural ethos of Manipuri society show that patriarchal discourses however, perpetuating, evidently do not always succeed in drowning women out. Women in Manipur are always in the forefront of various social and political movements. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru aptly remarked that “To awaken the society it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move the family moves; the village moves and the nation moves”.

The health infrastructure also needs attention and improvement and there is a necessity of conducting health awareness drives. There is an increasing realization among women that incentives have to be provided to help women overcome their backwardness in almost all spheres.