This is not a matter of the recent concept of women empowerment. It has continued for centuries. A separate world of women, and by women, in the Northeastern part of India. Women’s participation in vital social decisions are not new in this part of the country. In fact, women have always had an equal and important status in the land of Adi Shakti, Maa Kamakhya, from time immemorial.
This example of women empowerment and female entrepreneurial journey started 500 years ago in the North East in the form of an “all women market” or Nupi Keithel in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, which is also known as Ima Keithel or mother’s market.
It is a story of bravery and self-confidence of women, which started during the royal rule in the state of Manipur, when the women of this tiny hill state were compelled to do business in a market, created by them, to earn a livelihood for their family.
Nupi Lan: Women’s War against Britishers
The market was established in the 16th Century, following the imposition of the labour system, which is known as ‘lallup-kaba’ in Manipuri in 1533 CE. Lallup-kaba was a forced labour system in Manipur, which required male members of the Meitei community to work in distant lands or to serve in the royal army. As a consequence of the system, women had to support their households by cultivating in their fields or weaving textiles and then selling the products in a market. The makeshift market led to the formation of the organised Nupi Keithel or Women’s market.
During the British colonial period, the British administration attempted to impose economic and political sanctions (which they called economic reforms) in Manipur. These new norms of the Britishers disrupted the functioning of the Nupi Keithel or women’s market. The reforms involved large-scale seizure and export of food corps from Manipur without consideration for local requirements. It led to agitations by the women of the Ima Keithel and in response, the British attempted to sell off the assets and properties of Nupi Keithel to foreigners and external buyers. This resulted in the Nupi Lan or the women’s war, which eventually ceased with the Japanese invasion of India.
True Sense of Women Empowerment
The mother’s market is run exclusively by women in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur. It is a commercial center and a popular tourist attraction in the state of Manipur. It has shifted its location within the city of Imphal over the years and is currently located in Khawairaband Bazar. It was established in the 16th century and around 5,000–6,000 women vendors sell a variety of products in the market. Products such as vegetables, fruits, textiles, toys, fish, spices and utensils etc. All products are manufactured by women and then sold in the market. As per record, the mother’s market in Imphal is the oldest and largest women’s market in entire Asia.
It is a story of bravery and self-confidence of women, when the women of this tiny hill state were compelled to do business in a market, created by them, to earn a livelihood for their family
The Meitei community in Manipur follows the Hindu religion with sheer pride. One section of the mother’s market in Imphal sells only items needed to perform various puja according to Hindu rituals.
Large variety of locally produced food items are available in the market. These food items are produced by thousands of women entrepreneurs locally and sold in the market. A young vendor in the market, Sangeeta said, “Manipuri women have been able to maintain the popularity of the local food items in the competitive era of packaged foods. Not only that, we are making hundreds of women self-dependent by earning some amount of money through selling their products in the market. This is a true and continuous example of women empowerment in our state”.
We Need Some Attention
Laishram Ongbi Mema (71), President of Manipur Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup (MAKPAL), the parent body of women vendors which run the market, expressed her happiness for celebrating the rights and acknowledging the contribution of women in society on March 8 as International Women’s Day.
Laishram Mema, who has been running a jewelry shop at Ima Keithel since 1980, regrets that all successive state governments have failed to protect the unique identity and historic significance of the women’s market. Government authority (Imphal Municipal Corporation) failed to prevent man’s ownership of shops in the premises of Ima Keithel. Besides, she also alleged that shop licenses were even given to non-locals allowing them to open stalls inside the market shed which is designated for local women only.
The state government has renamed the Ima Keithel (Mother’s Market) to Nupi Keithel (Women’s Market). It was renamed as per the announcement of the Chief Minister, Manipur at the reopening function on 15-02-2021 at Khwairamband Keithel.
Mema further added that the income of the women vendors is not sufficient for livelihood nowadays. There are challenges from supermarkets and online shopping which are rapidly attracting the people of the city. She appealed to the concerned authority to provide subsidized loans for them at low interest to survive in the competitive market environment.
Thingujam Rani Leima (60), Secretary of Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Kanba Lup (KNKSASKL) informed that there are around 3800 license holder shop owners of the market.
Illegal vendors around Ima Keithel, also known as Khwairamband Nupi Keithel, have affected the business of licensed vendors inside the market. Low sales and high transportation fare have worsened their situation furthermore. An increasing number of illegal street vendors led to low sales of vendors inside Ima Keithel and some licensed vendors of Ima Keithel are unable to pay even their annual fees of Rupees 1200.
Most of the illegal street vendors are Muslim women, and their number is increasing day by day. Besides, the number of Muslim women-owned vendor inside Ima Keithel is also increasing every year, which may hamper the sanctity of the centuries-old market.
The vendors' society appealed to the government authority to strictly control illegal vendors. Either prevent the establishment of illegal vendors around Khwairamband Keithel or make alternative arrangements for the street vendors at other locations. This will preserve the sanctity and identity of Ima Keithel as well as boost the economy of vendor women at the market, Rani Leima added.
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