Political empowerment and Tribal Women Of Manipur
- Part 2 -
Dr. Benjamin Gangmei *
Mizo women political life
A sizable population of the Mizos live in Manipur. They concentrate in Churachandpur district. Like women of other tribes Mizo women had undergone life without due political rights and opportunities before the coming of Christianity to their society.
Their traditional political organisation shows that village political institutions like Village Council and its different political offices were exclusively occupied by male members.
So, from the office "Tlangao" (village messenger) to the office of village Chief were manned by menfolk in the Mizo society. Practically there was no "scope for a Mizo woman to participate in village administration."
They, therefore, did not have political status and their role was confined to domestic activities. In other words, Mizo women were not politically empowered in their male-dominated political life.
While there were contributive factors for change in man-woman relationship, the "most revolutionary thing which the Mizos learnt from Christianity was the equality of man before God. This equality led to the abolition of the traditional cheiftainship."[6]
Moreover, Christianity was also productive of political consciousness among them and the consciousness was culminated into the demand for separate administrative unit. It was headed by Mizo Union which was formed in 1947 in Mizoram.
Similar Union was also came up in Manipur following suit. The Union paved the way for Mizo women's participation in political activities by forming a women's wing. The wing worked with men's wing.
The ultimate object of the wings or the Mizo Union (Manipur) was to lend themselves to the struggle for the integration of all Mizos-inhabited areas to Lushai hills or Mizoram. With this ever first political exposure in Mizo society women also worked for the better lot in other aspects.
Towards this end and for effective assertion of their rights and opportunities, Mizo women formed Mizo Women Association. And what is interesting to note is that the founding leaders of the Association were "the advocates of Women Liberation". In fact, the liberation objectives envisaged by the Association testified their women liberation ideology.
The Association vows to work for gender equality by eradicating gender-based harmful practices such as "commercialization of bride-price", "dowry system", "sexual exploitation of any kind" or form, fight against "inequality between men and women", etc.
In spite of changes the Mizo women experienced and the level of consciousness they gained, they are yet to be politically empowered either in traditional or modern democratic political institutions. They are also yet to launch with necessary efforts for the implementation of women reservation in their society.
In short, the Mizo women are not politically ahead of the women of other tribes of Manipur in the enjoyment of their political rights and opportunities.
To be continued....
* Dr. Benjamin Gangmei wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This article was webcasted on November 20, 2010.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.