Historic Nupi Lan Commemoration Puts Spotlight on Unrecognised Muslim Women Leaders

The Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, in collaboration with the North East India Women Initiative for Peace, on Sunday (10th August) organized a day-long programme at Siroy Hall, Hotel Imphal, to commemorate 120 years of the historic Nupi Lan Women’s Non-Violent Movement in Manipur and strengthen indigenous women’s initiatives for peace.

The event, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., brought together social activists, academics, cultural artists, and grassroots women leaders to honor the courageous Manipuri women who fought in the 1904 and 1939 Nupi Lan uprisings and to discuss contemporary peace-building strategies.

The programme began with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp and floral tribute to Nupi Lan heroines, followed by a welcome address from Reena Mutum, Coordinator of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network. A moving invocation, Pena Yakairol, was performed by Manipur folk artist Donna Ngairangbam and her displaced students under the “Arts for Healing” initiative.

Key statements were delivered by prominent voices including Ima Lourembam Nganbi (President, AMKIL), Oinam Sonia (Manipur Civil Service Officer),academic scholars like Wangam Somorjit, Director of Advanced Research Consortium, Manipur , Dr. Jibanalta Devi, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Maharaja Bodhachandra College,and Dr. Syed Ahmed, Associate Professor, Department of History, Dhanamanjuri University. Discussions centered on the historical significance of the Nupi Lan movement, the current challenges facing indigenous women, and the need for inclusive peace-building.

Speaking at the conference, Syed Ahmed ,Associate Professor of Department of History, D.M. College of Arts, said, “Several Muslim women potphambis or vendors of Khwairamband Keithel took part in the Nupi Lan of 1939. Sara Bibi from Khergao and Khodi Bibi from Khetri were prominent leaders of the agitation. Sara Bibi was jailed for destroying the Kasturi’s store. However, till today these Muslim women are not recognized as women agitators of the historic agitation against the British imperial policies. Sara Bibi died in 1996 at the age of 104. Before her death, she gave interviews in which she accounted the participation of Muslim women in the Nupi Lan. The December 1990 issue of Mingsel, a Manipuri journal, carried a special interview with Sara Bibi. There is also audio recording of the interview.

The matter became an issue when in January 1997 someone wrote a letter to the editor of Poknapham stating that the Muslims and Kabuis did not participate in the Nupi Lan of 1939. In response to it, Nasir Ali @ Tonjao Mia form Lilong wrote on January 14, 1997 Poknapham that he was on duty as a police constable in front of the telegram office on December 12, 1939 and he saw the participation of Muslim vendors in the agitation. This clarification was followed by another. On January 20, 1997, Ahmed Hasan of Khergao wrote that he was an eye-witness of the whole event of Nupi Lan that took place in December 1939, not only Muslims but Kabuis too participated in the agitations at the Telegraph Office.

United Manipur Muslim Women’s Development Organization (UMMWDO) took up the issue by submitting a memorandum to the State Government stating that Muslim women took part in the Nupi Lan and Sara Bibi and Khodi Bibi were leaders. In 2014, the then legislator L. Ibomcha Singh pleaded on the floor of the State Assembly for the recognition of Muslim women agitators of second Nupi Lan during Zero Hour. Soon after, Under Secretary (Home) wrote an official letter to the DGP requesting recognition of Muslim agitators, particularly Sara Bibi and Khodi Bibi.

Significantly, in December 2017, the then Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, on the occasion of the observance of Nupi Lan organized by State Level Nupi Lan Organizing Committee, assured that the Muslim women who participated in the Nupi Lan will be listed prominently from 2018. However, the promise was not fulfilled. In December 2021, SDO, Porompat addressed a letter to the Deputy Commissioner (Imphal East) urging for the recognition of the Muslim women. Till today, the Muslim women agitators of Nupi Lan 1939 are not recognized by the State Government. As a result, some of the Muslim CSOs organize Nupi Lan to honour the Muslim women who took part in the Nupi Lan of 1939…”

The programme also featured a panel discussion on indigenous women’s peace initiatives, a film screening on the international movement of indigenous peoples, and thematic presentations on peace-building practices among Tangkhul, Khoibu, and Rongmei communities. The “Weaving for Peace Fellowship” was launched in memory of late Ima Sinam Chandrajini and late Sinam Debala Devi to support women weavers from diverse communities, whose works will be showcased globally in 2026 at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

One of the highlights was the “Seeds of Peace” exchange, symbolizing life, food sovereignty, and inter-community friendship through the sharing of seeds like beans, mustard, corn, and broad beans among indigenous women.

The event concluded with the drafting of a humanitarian peace-building recommendation, closing remarks on future strategies, and a vote of thanks by Aheibam Chanthoisana of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network.