Popular Movements In Colonial Manipur, 1891-1947
- Part 3 -

K. Ruhinikumar Sharma *

While the hills of Manipur appears remain calm for sometime, another movement which have far reaching consequences for the future history of Manipur broke out at the fag end of 1939. Started spontaneously by the women folk of the market due to acute scarcity of rice and escalating costs, the movement came to be known as Anishuba Nupi Lal or Second Women's War which almost paralysed the economic activities of the state for quite sometime and particularly the urban areas of Imphal.

It is already mentioned that Manipur was put under the colonial system of indirect rule. This system of indirect rule encouraged the penetration of outsiders in the state, particularly Bengalis, Marwaris and Sikhs, etc. these outside traders were allowed to settle at British reserves in the heart of lmphal and was beyond the jurisdiction of state durbar.

Manipuri rice, because of its high quality and nutritional values are of great demand outside the state. Through the business of rice the Marwari traders in Manipur began to play a crucial role in the economy of the state and almost monopolised the export of rice from the state for quite sometime. The state also earned revenue from the export of rice.

However, the volume of export suddenly increased from 105,287 mounds in 1931 it increases 277,389 mounds in 1932. This trend kept on increasing and by 1938 the quantum of export of rice increased to 372,174 mounds. In such unrestrained increase in export of rice there is a distinct possibility of scarcity in case of any natural calamities. And such a scenario actually prevailed in 1939.

There was an excessive rainfall during the last week of July and first week of August 1939 and caused extensive damage to standing paddy crops and vegetables. There was also another heavy rainfall in late September and early October. Again in mid November, hailstorm damaged standing crops ready for harvesting. The series of natural hindrances coupled with unchecked export of rice created a sense of possible scarcity of rice in the minds of people.

This fear was proved true as there was an unnatural increase in the price of rice. To worsen the situation, the mill owners brought all available paddy and continued to export it non-stop. As a result of this the poorer section of towns folk were suffering from loss of their earnings from husking paddy.

As a reaction to these developments, on December 17, 1939, the women came out in large numbers and began to organize demonstrations in the streets of Imphal demanding immediate cessation of rice export and closure of rice mills. They marched to the office of Mr. Sharpe, the Assistant Political Agent and President, Manipur State Darbar.

Then the agitationists along with Mr. Sharpe went to telegraph office to wire a message to Churachand Singh, the then Maharajah who was staying at Nabadwip, to convey the gravity of situation and secure his approval for cessation of export.

However, seeing the huge congregation of womenfolk at the telegraph office personnel of the 4th Assam Rifles along with its commandant came out to rescue Mr. Sharpe. Seeing the arrival of armed personnels, the womenfolk assembled there became more militant and aggressive. In the ensuing clash, the soldiers pushed back the womenfolk by using batons and bayonets. More than 30 women suffered injuries and 10 were hospitalized. And thus started the famous Second Women's War of 1939.

After the incident of 12 December, 1939, the main market remained closed for months. Necessary orders for banning export of rice from the state were issued on 17th January, 1940.

In spite of having issued orders to stop export of rice the movement of the womenfolk continued. However, by the beginning of 1940 the nature and character took a U-turn. The womenfolk now started demanding that the British rulers should leave Manipur immediately. To such demand of the women, the state acted swiftly arrested nine women leaders for anti-government activities and put them in jail. The boycott of Khwairamband Bazar continued till early 1941.

Thus beginning with the first Nupi Lal of 1904 the state of Manipur at least witnessed some form of movement or agitation in every decade. We have made a brief survey of these movements which were led and organised by the illiterate and marginal sections of the society viz. women and tribal.

The movement launched by the educated elites since the 30's of the twentieth century till the attainment of independence has been outside the preview of this paper. The women's war of' 1904 was essentially a reaction against the unjust policies of the colonial administration, the Kuki rebellion was more or less political in nature as the Kukis refused themselves to be submitted under the repressive measures of the colonial regime.

On the other hand the so called Zeliangrong or Kabui rebellion under Jadonang, is initially a socio-religious movement which later on turned militant and having political overtones. Some influence of impact of Indian national movement can also be seen in Jadonang's movement.

The second women's war of 1939 though started out of' the scarcity of rice in the state, later on took the shape of freedom movement as it demanded the end of British rule in Manipur and has greatly influenced the future mass movement in the state against the unjust actions of authority.

Concluded....