Nupi Lan

Reference:

Recently, 'Nupi Lal/Lan Numit 2024' was organized in Manipur, Tripura, Assam and some areas of Bangladesh.

About Nupi Lan Numit 2024

• Introduction: 'Nupi Lan Numit' refers to 'Women's War Day', which is organized every year in many states of North-East India, mainly in Manipur.
• Objective: To commemorate the role played by Manipuri women in the revolt against the injustice of British colonialism in the year 1904 and the year 1939.
• Date: It is held every year on 12 December to commemorate the Second Nupi Lan (Women’s War) that took place on 12 December 1939.
•  Edition: The 85th edition of this day was celebrated in the year 2024.
• Tribute: To women freedom fighters at the ‘Nupi Lan Memorial Complex’ in Imphal by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
• Nupi Lan Memorial Association: This association works to commemorate the Nupi Lan uprising.
  • It organises cultural programmes like drama to honour the bravery of Manipuri women and preserve their historical heritage.

Contribution of Manipuri Women in Freedom Struggle

Manipuri women have played a special role in India’s struggle for independence during ‘Nupi Lan’ and the ‘7-year period of destruction’. 

About Nupi Lan:

Nupi Lan (Women's War) were two major protests by women against colonial authorities in the British India era Manipur state.

First Nupi Lan

• The first Nupi Lan (Women's War) was initiated by Colonel Maxwell in July 1904 to reintroduce the 'Laalup System' that was abolished.
  • The Lalup System meant 'free labour of the people for the king' i.e. men had to do free labour for 10 days after every 30 days.
• In 1904, after two British officers' bungalows were burnt down, Colonel Maxwell temporarily reintroduced the Lalup System to rebuild them.
  • This resulted in women uniting and protesting against the injustice of forced labour.
• Although this initiative was an effort to identify women as a collective, it has historically been marked as the first indicator of women's empowerment in the absence of men.
• After the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, Manipur came under direct British rule until 1907. Thereafter, the administration of the state was handed over to Raja Churachand Singh and his court.
  • However, a British political agent was appointed to oversee the functioning of the region and had authority over the royal court.

Second Nupi Lan:

• The Second Nupi Lan (Women's War) began on 12 December 1939.
• On this day, a large number of women staged a fierce demonstration at the State Durbar Office demanding an immediate ban on rice export.
• This movement was started as a struggle by Manipuri women against the economic and administrative policies of the Manipur Maharaja and Grimson (1933-45), the political agent of the British government in Manipur.
• Later this struggle developed into a movement for constitutional and administrative reform in Manipur.
• In the end, the British government banned the export of rice but many women of Manipur sacrificed their lives in this movement.

7 Year Devastation Period:

• The period of Burmese invasion in Manipur between 1819 and 1826 is called the 'Seven Year Devastation Period'.
• For about a year, the Burmese soldiers looted and tortured on a large scale and about 5,50,000 Manipuris were killed.
• In this struggle, the women of Manipur showed courage and fought against the intruders.
• Dr. N. Birchandra has said in his book 'Seven Years Devastation: 1819-1826' that it reminds us of the cruelty and inhumane behavior of the Burmese people on the Manipuris (Meitei).