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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}'''Meira Paibi''' (Women torch bearers) is a women's [[social movement]] in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Manipur]]. Referred to as the "guardians of civil society", Meira Paibi dates to 1977 in present [[Kakching district]]. It derives its name from the flaming torches which the women carry while marching through city streets, often at night. They do so both as a patrol, and in protest, seeking redress against human rights violations committed by paramilitary and armed forces units against the innocent. Contextualized, Meira Paibi was founded at a time when the people of Manipur were fighting for self-determination, political autonomy, and independence.

According to ''[[The Times of India]]'', Meira Paibi is the "largest grassroots, civilian movement fighting state atrocities and human rights violations in Manipur". One of the movement's leaders, A. K. Janaki Leima, says that "We've been fighting against drug abuse, crimes against women, and the [[Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act|Armed Forces Special Powers Act]] (AFSPA). We will continue to fight these".

==Background==
Meira Paibi was established in 1977 in [[Kakching]], [[kakching district]], [[Manipur]], India. Meira Paibis are the women "guardians of civil society" and they carry flaming torches and march through city streets, frequently at night doing a patrol duty, and as a way of protest for seeking redress against human rights violations committed by paramilitary and armed forces units against the innocent. The movement evolved at a time when the people of Manipur were fighting for self-determination, political autonomy, and independence.<ref name="Thangjom2013">{{cite journal|last1=Thangjom|first1=Lalzo S.|title=The Role of MEIRA PAIBI in Bringing about Social Change in the Manipuri Society: An Analysis|journal=Journal of Social Welfare & Management|date=October 2013|volume=5|issue=4|pages=235|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/95644768/role-meira-paibi-bringing-about-social-change-manipuri-society-analysis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313054508/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/95644768/role-meira-paibi-bringing-about-social-change-manipuri-society-analysis|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-13|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>{{Sfn|Parratt|2005|p=157}}<ref name= Sunil2013>{{Cite web|last= Sunil|first= Oinam|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/TOI-Social-Impact-Awards-Lifetime-contribution-Meira-Paibi/articleshow/17963178.cms|title=TOI Social Impact Awards: Lifetime contribution — Meira Paibi|date=10 January 2013|access-date=10 March 2016|newspaper=Times of India}}</ref>

==Predecessor movements==
===Nupi lan===
{{main|Nupi lan}}
Women's social movements in Manipur date to [[British Raj|British rule]]. Two such movements, collectively known as [[Nupi lan]] (Women's War; Women's Uprising),{{sfn|Thomas|2011|p=168}} preceded Meira Paibi. The first one dates to 1904 when women of the [[Imphal]] valley protested against the [[Assistant Superintendent]] of British authority in Manipur because of his directive to collect teak wood from [[Kabaw Valley|Kabas]] to build his house. The women who protested were neighbors in the locality. British authorities brought forces from outside the state to end this women's protest.{{Sfn|Karna|1998|pp=77–80}} A second movement occurred in 1939 as protest to forced rice exportation which was causing starvation among the local people.<ref name= Laithangbam>{{Cite news|last=Laithangbam|first=Iboyaima|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/women-vigilantes-of-manipur-to-observe-meira-paibi-day-on-december-29/article6563476.ece|title=Women vigilantes of Manipur|date=4 November 2014|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> Women, nearly 99% of them, protested peacefully, submitting a petition to the [[Durbar (court)|Durbar]] (government authority). The movement forced closure of rice mills and eventually proved successful in halting the exportation of rice.{{Sfn|Karna|1998|pp=77–80}} Nupi Lan became the forerunner in introducing reforms in the state after [[World War II]].<ref name=Yen/> 12 December is observed annually by Meira Paibi as "Women's War Day" commemorating the events of 1939.<ref name= Laithangbam/>

===Nisha Bandis===
The Nisha Bandis women's movement developed in the late 1970s. Its origins are attributed to [[Meitei people|Meitei]] women's activism combating alcoholism and drug addiction.<ref name= Laithangbam/> The women held night marches in the streets of Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur carrying lanterns, chastising the intoxicated, and setting fire to liquor shops. Their actions lead to the introduction of [[prohibition]] laws in the state.<ref name= Sunil2013/> The late 1970s was a period of civil unrest,<ref name="Malindog2014">{{cite web|last1=Malindog|first1=Anna|title=The Role of Women in Self-Determination Movements|url=http://kashmirwatch.com/the-role-of-women-in-self-determination-movements/|access-date=12 March 2016|date=2 December 2014}}</ref> which established an underground insurgency movement in Manipur. The [[Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act#Armed Forces Special Powers (Assam and Manipur) Act, 1958|Armed Forces Special Powers Assam and Manipur Act 1958]] permitted paramilitary forces and the police to use unlimited power in dealing with insurgency, resulting in the arrest, torture, and deaths of many innocent young people. The Nisha Bandis became socially active with vigilante activities, protests and marches through the streets of Imphal and elsewhere in the state.{{Sfn|Karna|1998|pp=77–80}}<ref name="Malindog2014" />

==Establishment==
{{Quote box
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The Nisha Bandis carried ''{{lang|hi|podons}}'' (large-wicked kerosene lamps){{sfn|Thomas|Gopalakrishnan|Singh|2001|p=90}} and ''{{lang|hi|laltain}}'' ([[Hindi]], lantern) but after switching to flaming torches, they became known as Meira Paibi.<ref name="Nepram2005">{{cite web|last1=Nepram|first1=Binalakshmi|title=A Narrative on the Origin of the Meira Paibis|url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.Essays.A_Narrative_on_the_Origin_of_the_Meira_Paibis|publisher=E-Pao|access-date=12 March 2016|date=9 January 2005}}</ref> The Meitei women torch bearers represented the declaration of a just war defending [[human rights]] in Manipur.<ref name=Yen>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/30311-is-the-meira-paibi-movement-facing-extinction/|title=Is the Meira Paibi Movement Facing Extinction?|date=15 September 2013|access-date=10 March 2016|newspaper=The Sangai ExpRess|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311191148/http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/30311-is-the-meira-paibi-movement-facing-extinction/|archive-date=11 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their movement has expanded to hold "public meetings, demonstrations, road closures and public bandhs or shut down of all essential services, hunger strikes and mass rallies."<ref name=Yen/> These women, also known as "women vigilantes", stopped army vehicles, rescued innocent youth who were apprehended on false charges, and negotiated their transfer to the police. The Army did not protest as they respected the role of Meitei women in just causes.<ref name= Laithangbam/> The Meira Paibi's movement has become known as the third Nupi Lan.<ref name="Nepram2005" />

==Recognition==
''Times of India'' awarded the "TOI Social Impact Awards: Lifetime contribution" to Meira Paibi and its five leaders, the 83-year-old Thokchom Ramani, Ak Janaki Leima, L Memchoubi Devi, Y Leirik Leima, and Purnimashi Leima.<ref name= Sunil2013/> These five women -known as "imas" or mothers- take an aggressive posture by lowering their traditional ''phanek'' (floral embroidered Meitei sarong), tie it with a cloth belt (''khwang chet''), and cover their shoulders with the formal ''phi'' (embroidered phanek). They also tie a piece of cloth over their head in the form of a [[turban]]. They carry the flaming torch as a symbol of their feminist movement supporting human rights and peace.<ref name= Sunil2013/>
''Uday '' awarded the
''Struggle of Meira Paibi''
Their fought for the struggle using torch. Many named it with many names but it was Meira Paibi's Movement.

== Film on Meira Paibi ==
A short documentary film on Meira Paibi was made in 2018. The film titled, Fireflies is directed by Johnson Rajkumar.<ref>{{Citation|title=Fireflies 2018|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt8011806/|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref> The film focuses on an underrated women’s social movement active in Manipur. Appreciated both by movie buffs and critics, the 6-minute documentary explores the role of women in the conflict-ridden, male-dominated society of Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eclecticnortheast.in/2018/04/manipuri-activist-makes-documentary-meira-paibis/|title=Manipuri Activist Makes Documentary on Meira Paibis|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref> The film articulates the journey of Meira Paibi, a women’s social movement in Manipur, in their struggles to protect the community from atrocities committed by the state. Through powerful testimonies, the film looks into how gender identities are negotiated during times of conflict and violence.<ref name="EastMojo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastmojo.com/manipur/2019/12/20/manipuri-documentary-fireflies-screened-at-kathmandu-film-fest|title=Manipuri documentary 'Fireflies' screened at Kathmandu film fest|last=EastMojo|first=Team|website=EastMojo|language=en|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>

The film has got both national and international appreciation. The film had won Best Short Documentary in Arthouse Asia International Film Festival, Kolkata and won second place in short documentary section in Chennai International Short Film Festival. The film had also been selected in several international and national film festivals including Golden Tree International Documentary Film Festival in Frankfurt, Dada Saheb Phalke International Film Festival in Mumbai, Davis Feminist Film Festival in California and Human Rights Short Film Festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh.<ref name="EastMojo"/> Excerpts from the film: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoeoEOb6p0s&t=2s Fireflies]

== See also ==

* [[Ima Market]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Karna|first=Mahendra Narain|title=Social Movements in North-East India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3FJEfU3swcC&pg=PA77|year=1998|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-083-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Parratt|first=John|title=Wounded Land: Politics and Identity in Modern Manipur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fO4N_FI8jt4C&pg=PA157|year=2005|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-8324-053-6}}
*{{cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=C. Joshua|last2=Gopalakrishnan|first2=Ramamoorthy|last3=Singh|first3=R. K. Ranjan|title=Constraints In Development Of Manipur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AFxuAAAAMAAJ|year= 2001|publisher=Regency Publications [for Policy Alternatives for the North-East and Conflict Elimination Awareness]|isbn=978-81-87498-30-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Pradip Ninan|title=Negotiating Communication Rights: Case Studies from India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W9yGAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA168|year=2011|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-81-321-0778-1}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:People from Thoubal district]]
[[Category:Community activists]]
[[Category:Anti-corruption activism in India]]
[[Category:Indian human rights activists]]
[[Category:Social movements in India]]
[[Category:Meitei people]]
[[Category:History of Manipur]]
[[Category:Activists from Manipur]]
[[Category:Women from Manipur]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]

Meira Paibi - Revision history

Xannat: added layout as per guidelines for consistency

>Scorpions13256: Copying from Category:20th-century Indian women to Category:20th-century Indian people non-diffusing subcategory using Cat-a-lot