Mou Ama Mangkhare : A married woman missing

Seram Neken *

Social implications behind the MOU-MISSING phenomena witnessed as notices in advertisement columns of local tabloids.

Manipuri women are identified with inherent modesty, courage, valor and patience. The role of a Manipuri woman in varied aspects of life is exemplary throughout the world. Economically, women of this land have been an important bread earner of the family as the existing Nupi-Keithel reveals the tradition from times immemorial. From cultivating fields to the commercial market, women have been investing their energy and wit to feed their family. In social life, women have been playing unique roles in the historic Nupi-Lals occurred in the state.

Even today, women in the guise of Meira Paibees are guarding the society against alcoholism, drug addiction, assaults, misbehavior, and human right violations. The nude protest of Manipuri women in front of sacred Kangla against the excesses of security personnel still lingers in the contemporary minds all over the world. In political life, women have been playing important roles in moulding public opinion and collective voice. Right from the family to the society at large, the better-halves of Manipur take significant responsibilities of nation building.

Nowadays, a changed phenomenon concerning the plight of women has been mirrored in the advertisement columns of local newspapers. Missing notices of married women are increasingly appearing in the advertisement corners of local newspapers. It is questionable why the married women shun their husband's abode to find new partners. Answers to such a question certainly expose irresponsibility of the males as well as excessive behavior of women. Such odd advertisements have positive as well as negative implications in the changing social cohesiveness in Manipur society. Nevertheless, the male fraternity has the undeniable responsibility to save the society from such misdemeanor.

Positive Implications:

Various technological innovations like the mobile phones and internet have enabled women to unveil their inherent assertiveness in the society. Most women who are not satisfied with their husband's dealings and behavior in family life have started revenging their partners. They are now technology-enabled with the burgeoning mobile handsets. Their secrecy of thought and actions are nicely activated and motivated with the present day privatized technologies.

Such a changed social dynamism has empowered many women to find new partners. Most MOU-MISSING cases occur in families where the husbands are alcoholics, drug addicts or ill-behaved persons. Wives of those who indulge in extra-marital affaires with others often challenge their husbands by abandoning the family. In fact, the phenomenon of discarding husbands is an outcome of irresponsible male behavior.

The conservative Manipur society gives room for men to have extra-marital relations out of their families. When a man brings home a second wife, the society does not blame it as drastic action. However, when a woman has extra-marital relations, she is ostracized by family, locality and society. Such a wide variation between the actions of men and women always stand supportive to males. Increasing women assertiveness appears to be a revenge to such male hegemony.

When the women are kept as symbol of modesty and affectionate towards husbands and children, men are supposedly freed to explore hedonist culture out-of-sight to their better-halves. That the raging women have started shunning their husband's home to teach lessons to the rash male counterparts of the society may imply the growing women empowerment in Manipur society. That women have started challenging the traditional male hegemony in the society is worthy of appreciation considering manner in which most ill-behaved men treat their better-halves.

Negative Implication:

What has gone wrong among Manipuri males today that a number of married women have started rejecting their marital status and finding new partners. This will certainly be seen as deterioration of social values and a challenge to the modesty of women.

The decorative women's image in Manipur society has been painted with black ink by such cases of social misdemeanor. It is right time for the male fraternity of the state to find out the circumstances leading to increasing MOU-MISSING cases. The mistakes on the part of males, if any, may be corrected on time, before the social image of Manipuri women plunges into total darkness.

Voice of the Week

A number of married women have started rejecting their marital status and finding new partners, apparently as a challenge to the traditional male irresponsibility or hegemony in the society. Although it is a symbol of increasing women assertiveness as part of their empowerment mission, such a rage hurts the healthy-look of Manipuri society.

Is the male responsible for burgeoning women missing cases ? It is time for the male conglomerate to study the circumstances and implications of "MOU-MISSING" phenomenon, and also to explore ways to save the society.