|
|
| Features
>> December |
| XXXXX |
Meira-Paibis- an Introspection
By Dr.N.Vijaylakshmi Brara, December 23
Our Manipur is a small state in the Northeast. It has been famous for its Raas-lilaa, Marital arts, handloom and folk dances and sports. In the present times it is becoming famous for its separatist movements, inter-tribal warfare and drugs and AIDS. Along with this Manipur is also famous for the unique institution called the Meira-Paibis.
Starting from their fight for independence from the British, our women have been in forefront in spearheading peaceful protests against injustices. In the historic movements called the 1st Nupilal and the 2nd Nupilal the women spontaneously came out in large numbers. While the second time the women stopped the British, who in connivance with the local traders, were trying to sell rice outside the state when there was an acute shortage within the state. It was the first time during the first Nupilal, which was in the year 1904 that Meitei women realized their collective potential as a strong pressure group. Since then they have made their voices heard.
Today, they hold Meiras /Mashaals and roam in the locality to keep a watch on drunkenness and drug-abuse. They make a human wall in cases where innocent local youths are forcibly being taken away by the Armed Forces in the name of insurgents. They are the only ones who can dare to warn and scold the people in under-ground movement for their excesses. Everybody is cautious of them. They dare to get lathi charged, to sit for hunger strikes and even go to jail for a right cause.
Manipuri women's groups are the Watchdogs of their society. They are the Mothers. Like any other mother they can go to any extent to safeguard the lives and interests of their children - their society. No where else, will one find such vast network of organizations of women. Their handling of the most difficult situations in most non-violent ways. They are a treasure in themselves. Their organizational skills and their non-violent means, even in the face of barbaric violence can be wonderful learning and sharing experience within the South Asian region. BUT, they have their limitations.
For, if they were so effective, there would have been so less trouble in this society. They would have taken care of it all. Most of our women are naive and innocent. They work on their instincts. So, whoever can trigger their motherly emotions can get them on their side, especially the Meira paibis. This kind of instinctive reaction defeats the whole purpose of their role as watchdogs. That is the reason why inspite of such a strong body we do not have any leaders among them - leaders of reckoning. What we need is a 'think tank' among the Meira Paibis. We need them to lead the people and formulate the policies and plans of action, rather than being led. In fact I would go to the extent of proposing that they should make a body, which is given statutory power by the government for a periodic review of law and order of the state.
Most of these women are also capable self-employed weavers, traders, and farmers. They should be brought to the level of policy makers to draft an economic development program and a path for the entire region.
It is such a vast organization, but it is very Leikai/locality oriented. If the Meira-paibis can organize and make a more centralized structure, where we have an apex body, the law and order issues and the policy framing issues can be handled more responsibly and systematically. The issues can then be prioritized and the apex body can assign and divide issues and responsibilities among the members. Further details can be worked out once the basic premise is understood and agreed upon.
There is one dimension towards which I feel our Imas have not yet focused. They have not yet peeped inside the homes. Some how they have been reluctant to touch the social norms of the society. They do not address to, neither do they have any policy or any ideology towards domestic violence, to polygamous liaisons etc, which are prevalent in our society. Neither do they address to the women's issues in general. They are the organizations only OF women but not necessarily FOR women.
The Meira-paibis predominant role has been, to see that the social order is maintained. The chatnabis or the social norms are upheld even when they are not women friendly. Any anormative behavior that goes against the social customs is discouraged and denounced. The traditions and the customs are not challenged.
They have to shift their focus and become more women-friendly. Lately we have come across news of women committing suicide under very questionable circumstances. They did not, probably have any societal help. Our society has to create an institution of women, which is exclusively for such women. Our Meira-paibis should create such a cell, which is also given a statutory status. A legal cell should back it. The Manipur Bar should come forward to provide services in such cases. Our Bar and the law teachers should also come forward and hold legal awareness camps for the Meira-paibis.
We, in the Northeast have been witnessing the longest struggle against the repression by state agencies. We have been too engrossed with the atrocities committed on us by the security forces. The women in trying to save their children's and their men folk's lives have not yet been able to focus their attention to such finer forms of discriminations. In our list of priorities, probably peace comes first and the egalitarian concepts will probably come much later. The mothers rather than any other social group desire peace. It is their children who are killed in any act of violence, be it with the security forces or the conflicting ethnic divides.
If all the mothers of various ethnic groups join hands in seeing and acting upon the peace initiative for the whole region, it will definitely leave its impact. I will cite one example; in 1976 in Northern Ireland when the conflict between Catholics and Protestants was at its peak, two women from these two communities came out and campaigned for peace. Later they received peace prize in recognition of their efforts. So, why can't we? The voices of the mothers are heard.
If they shed their ethnic loyalties and come together only as Mothers, not a Naga mother or a Kuki mother or a Meitei mother, just like our Northern Ireland mothers, peace and development will not be far. The mothers of Manipur should form a common platform to discuss the strategies for the development of the whole region. They should and would be noticed and focused by the social planners and activists who are interested in this region. When they speak the society will listen.
(This article is an extract of a paper presented at a seminar organized by the All Manipur Students Union on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2001)
(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press) |
|
|
 |
|
|
Welcome!
