CorCom greets on December 12 anniv
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 10 2011:
On the eve of the anniversary of the historic event of December 12, 1939, the Coordination Committee (CorCom) of KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), RPF, UNLF and UPPK has greeted the people of Manipur, specially womenfolk of the land.
In a press statement, the CorCom noted that womenfolk of Manipur have been taking active part in the economic, political and social dimensions of the society throughout the history of Manipur.
The two most notable events where women fought crucial battles against colonial exploitation and injustice were those of 1904 and 1939 .
The first event was against the British authority's awkward order to send Manipuri men to bring timber from Kabow Valley to re-build their bungalow which was ravaged by fire.
In 1939, Manipur faced a famine like situation during harvesting season because of unrestrained export of rice by non-local traders in cahoot with the British rulers and the native king.
Unable to tolerate such harsh exploitation, womenfolk of the land came out to the streets and challenged British authority, non-local traders as well as the native king.
In the course of the mass movement, many women were beaten up, many bayoneted and many others shot dead.
This event remains a source of inspiration for the freedom fighters of today, the CorCom asserted.
After Manipur was allegedly annexed to India, the agrarian economy of Manipur was steadily uprooted and destroyed.
Following mechanization of agriculture and with most of the people going for Government jobs, work culture of the indigenous people which was vibrant when Manipur was independent started wearing out.
Those men who have thrown away their work culture took to gambling and intoxicating substances creating a very serious malaise in the society.
This compelled the womenfolk to launch a movement known as Nisha Bandh by 1975 .
The same movement took a new form and it started focusing more on defending human rights by 1980's .
It was during this period that the Government of India and its alleged puppet State Government declared the whole of Manipur as disturbed area and imposed AFSPA with a design to repress the liberation movement of Manipur.
Again womenfolk stood up firmly and bravely against all kinds of human rights violation unleashed by the Indian military in the form of killing people in fake encounters, torturing innocent civilians, forcing involuntary disappearance of apprehended people, rape and murder of women.
It sowed seeds of today's world famous Meira Paibi Movement, the CorCom stated.
Following the footsteps of the Meira Paibi Movement, Irom Chanu Sharmila launched her crusade against AFSPA in 2000 .
Observing that prolonged occupation of Manipur by India has assimilated the indigenous traditions, practices, culture and values of Manipur into the Indian culture and tradition, the CorCom stated that this paved way for the extreme degeneration and depravity in the Manipuri society.
The only way out of this sorry state of affairs is securing the right to self determination.
The present generation, after overcoming all the challenges facing, must hand over a free and progressive Manipur to their future generations.
To overcome these challenges, womenfolk too need to build up a forceful and decisive movement.
Observance of December 12 anniversary would carry meaning and purpose only when educated women of today emulate their illiterate but courageous mothers of the past and commit themselves to solving multiple issues plaguing the society.
Comment
