Reading session on Tattooed with Taboos
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 14 2012:
A reading from an anthology of poetry, Tattooed With Taboos written and published independently in 2011 by three women poets from Manipur namely Shreema Ningombam, Chaoba Phuritshabam and Soibam Haripriya was held at Miranda House, Delhi University at 3 pm yesterday.
The event was jointly organised by the college's English Literary Society and Women's Development Cell.
The anthology was discussed in the context of the various issues and challenges faced by women in Manipur which was introduced by Ashley Tellis, gay rights activist and Assistant Professor in English at Miranda House, Delhi University.
Referring to the a series of bans and diktats that affect women beginning from the ban on "provocative" attire (with covert support by groups across the political spectrum) as well as ban of a Manipuri actress for marrying a non-Manipuri man that expresses the xenophobic nature of the Meitei society Tellis spoke of the pressing need and power of the critique offered by these three women poets.
Arguing that these women poets who also do journalistic writing, social research and comment on Meitei society had a very powerful and useful critique to offer, Tellis spoke of how their work questions Meitei patriarchy as much as official feminism associated with the traditional women's movement.
The poets read poems which questioned the various layers and kind of conservatism in Meitei society, principally through their bold and subversive renderings of their sexuality, breaking the silence around the issue of sexuality.
They spoke of being inspired by their mothers and grandmothers, the challenges of bringing out the book on their own (including visiting a press located in a red-light district in Imphal) Tellis pointed out that the critique by these women is actually respectful, internal, dialogic and important and shows their love and commitment to Meitei society and a democratic future.
He emphasised on the title of the book "Tattooed with Taboos" which encapsulates this critique and stressed that the book is a critical way of looking at the Manipuri society.
The poets also expressed that their anthology has received mixed responses.
The anthology had been able to incite a sense of displacement within the reader about Meitei patriarchy.
However, the poets also attained strong solidarity from various sections of readers regarding the ideological undercurrents in the anthology.
In a state seeing escalating violence against women, recently in the form of rapes and gruesome murders, strongly repressive social practices like the recent rape, tonsure and parading of a mentally challenged woman instead of offering her protection from her assaulters, the appropriation of the women's groups/ collective by reactionary forces and the continuing policing of women by all quarters, the voices of these women poets come as salutary and important.
It is hoped that their poetry is heard more and that Meitei society will reflect on their own anxieties in a way that helps it combat the forces that oppress it rather than through practices and responses that exacerbate the oppression of women.
After readings last year in Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Attic in Connaught Place, they hope to have more readings this year in Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Ambedkar University, all in Delhi.
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