RESPECT THE RESPECTABLE
RESPECT THE RESPECTABLE
These days there is so much heard about Women rights, Women liberation and Women empowerment. In fact women empowerment started with the culture of haute couture in 1920s in Europe. It was restricted only to the elite class. Now the world has realized social benefits of women empowerment and it is like a movement. India has also come a long way from olden times when it believed the maxim spelt out in the scripture; Manusmriti, that said,” A woman must invariably act on the advice of her father, husband and if widowed her son”. After independence Indian society was still infected with various social evils like; child marriage, ban on widow remarriage, purdah system etc. It stood true to the words of Tulsidas that said,” Dhol, Ganwar, Shudra, Pashu and Naari- Ye sab tadan ke adhikari” (when translated it means Drum, Ruffian, Shudra, Animal and Women only deserve beating). Women of North Eastern (NE) India have visible image of being liberal without discrimination, forward looking, no purdah, no ban on widow remarriage etc. But of late this image is being belied by the increase of violence against women in this part of the country.
There is a need to realize that a woman is a versatile person; a mother, a friend and a companion. One can say; she creates, preserves and prolongs human life. Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) of India made a specific contribution towards development of women i.e. a shift from only welfare. 73rd constitutional amendment (1993) has provisions for reservation of seats for women so that they are part of decision making from grass root level. National commission of women has made policies that also lays down ways & means for empowerment of women in social, political and economic life. It also says elimination of all discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child. But the reality is a bit different.
Of late the image of women in NE region of our nation has been smeared with blood and obscenity. As per police records; in the entire state of Assam, from 2001 to 2006 a total of 5990 women were kidnapped, 5263 were murdered and 785 were tortured by their husbands. Three young women passengers were raped and Melluri bound bus looted near Chakabama (Nagaland) by armed miscreants on 26 Mar 08. Tribal families (67) of Tripura were inhumanly tortured by insurgents of National Liberation Front of Tripura.
Recent killings (24 Mar 08) of women in Heirok (Chandel district of Manipur) and injuring of a young girl Rebki (17) during Thabal Chongba celebrations) had been very heartbreaking. She, who had been a bright student, has darkness for her life. She says, “Will I be ever able to see again”. Her parents have run out of finances for treatment. During a Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting after these killings general secretary Laishram Mandir said, “Are the revolutionary groups of Manipur for the people or to eliminate innocent civilians”. People have decided to take a tough stand against such activities. During one of the JAC meeting it was decided that Meira Paibis will keep vigil in and around Heirok through out the night and members of the local clubs will extend their cooperation to them.
Another hair raising incident was gang rape and killing of a widow at Tekcham Luishiput in Thoubal district of Manipur. Have the miscreants thought of the young children of the late widow, Laisgram Ongbi Santibala? Committers and perpetrators of such offences should be shameful.
Flip side of the coin is that these are the same women who had been sheltering the UGs due to familial bonding. Recently a woman named Oinam Mainu, a Zila Parishad member of Thoubal (Manipur) has been detained, under NSA, for harbouring killers of migrant workers (on 17/18 Mar 08). She has also been known to siphon percentage of development funds to militant outfits including NSCN (IM) (Imphal Free Press datelined 10 Apr 08).
There is a need to remember the role these women have played in the history of this region. Do not forget the grass root economic role played by these women in the Tea Industry and other businesses. Do not forget the activism of Assamese Pradesh Mahila Samitis during freedom struggle. Recently these women have given the lead and inspiration to standup against impossible demands of ultras in Assam valley. Do not forget the role, Manipuri women played against the Britishers (1904) to safe guard the honour of their men and against dishonest Businessmen (1939) to save the Manipuri Society from hunger. Do not forget the role Meira Paibis have played to safe guard their men from falling prey to liquor and thus giving a new impetus to family life. Do not forget the pragmatic positive role these women play in caring the child from prenatal to postnatal state.
The women seem to have broken the traditional ‘culture of silence’ against violence. It will not be wrong to quote powerful words of RK Dhanbati Devi, President of Lamlong Keithel Fambi Apunba Lup. After the bomb blast in Khurai Lamlang Bazar (Imphal) in Nov 07 she said,” it is true that there was a time when Meira Paibis and militants worked in tandem. But at that time we thought that militant’s demands were justified and we supported them, but now we realize our mistake. These militants have turned their guns towards us. There is no question of supporting or aligning ourselves with them. They (militants) are our enemies and they should be finished”.
Miscreants are not sparing any section of the society. The same is obvious in numerous resentment rallies, against UG activities, by the populace. There is a need to treat women as equal partners and not a weaker sex. There is need to respect the natural biology of the fairer sex. There is need to develop respect for our creator. Now is time to finish the thought of militancy and not the militants who are also the sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. All women need to be supported in every possible way to create a society, where no women is disrespected, no mother loses her son, no sister loses her brother, no wife loses her husband, no parent loses old age support, no child loses the father and society does not lose the constructive strength of the youth due to avoidable violence. Always Remember!
“Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, not out of his feet to be trampled underfoot, but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, near his heart to be loved.”
Geoffery
(Readers can reach out to the writer via email: jaey_geoffery@yahoo.co.in Or post views on blog: jaey-geoffery.blogspot.com)
These days there is so much heard about Women rights, Women liberation and Women empowerment. In fact women empowerment started with the culture of haute couture in 1920s in Europe. It was restricted only to the elite class. Now the world has realized social benefits of women empowerment and it is like a movement. India has also come a long way from olden times when it believed the maxim spelt out in the scripture; Manusmriti, that said,” A woman must invariably act on the advice of her father, husband and if widowed her son”. After independence Indian society was still infected with various social evils like; child marriage, ban on widow remarriage, purdah system etc. It stood true to the words of Tulsidas that said,” Dhol, Ganwar, Shudra, Pashu and Naari- Ye sab tadan ke adhikari” (when translated it means Drum, Ruffian, Shudra, Animal and Women only deserve beating). Women of North Eastern (NE) India have visible image of being liberal without discrimination, forward looking, no purdah, no ban on widow remarriage etc. But of late this image is being belied by the increase of violence against women in this part of the country.
There is a need to realize that a woman is a versatile person; a mother, a friend and a companion. One can say; she creates, preserves and prolongs human life. Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) of India made a specific contribution towards development of women i.e. a shift from only welfare. 73rd constitutional amendment (1993) has provisions for reservation of seats for women so that they are part of decision making from grass root level. National commission of women has made policies that also lays down ways & means for empowerment of women in social, political and economic life. It also says elimination of all discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child. But the reality is a bit different.
Of late the image of women in NE region of our nation has been smeared with blood and obscenity. As per police records; in the entire state of Assam, from 2001 to 2006 a total of 5990 women were kidnapped, 5263 were murdered and 785 were tortured by their husbands. Three young women passengers were raped and Melluri bound bus looted near Chakabama (Nagaland) by armed miscreants on 26 Mar 08. Tribal families (67) of Tripura were inhumanly tortured by insurgents of National Liberation Front of Tripura.
Recent killings (24 Mar 08) of women in Heirok (Chandel district of Manipur) and injuring of a young girl Rebki (17) during Thabal Chongba celebrations) had been very heartbreaking. She, who had been a bright student, has darkness for her life. She says, “Will I be ever able to see again”. Her parents have run out of finances for treatment. During a Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting after these killings general secretary Laishram Mandir said, “Are the revolutionary groups of Manipur for the people or to eliminate innocent civilians”. People have decided to take a tough stand against such activities. During one of the JAC meeting it was decided that Meira Paibis will keep vigil in and around Heirok through out the night and members of the local clubs will extend their cooperation to them.
Another hair raising incident was gang rape and killing of a widow at Tekcham Luishiput in Thoubal district of Manipur. Have the miscreants thought of the young children of the late widow, Laisgram Ongbi Santibala? Committers and perpetrators of such offences should be shameful.
Flip side of the coin is that these are the same women who had been sheltering the UGs due to familial bonding. Recently a woman named Oinam Mainu, a Zila Parishad member of Thoubal (Manipur) has been detained, under NSA, for harbouring killers of migrant workers (on 17/18 Mar 08). She has also been known to siphon percentage of development funds to militant outfits including NSCN (IM) (Imphal Free Press datelined 10 Apr 08).
There is a need to remember the role these women have played in the history of this region. Do not forget the grass root economic role played by these women in the Tea Industry and other businesses. Do not forget the activism of Assamese Pradesh Mahila Samitis during freedom struggle. Recently these women have given the lead and inspiration to standup against impossible demands of ultras in Assam valley. Do not forget the role, Manipuri women played against the Britishers (1904) to safe guard the honour of their men and against dishonest Businessmen (1939) to save the Manipuri Society from hunger. Do not forget the role Meira Paibis have played to safe guard their men from falling prey to liquor and thus giving a new impetus to family life. Do not forget the pragmatic positive role these women play in caring the child from prenatal to postnatal state.
The women seem to have broken the traditional ‘culture of silence’ against violence. It will not be wrong to quote powerful words of RK Dhanbati Devi, President of Lamlong Keithel Fambi Apunba Lup. After the bomb blast in Khurai Lamlang Bazar (Imphal) in Nov 07 she said,” it is true that there was a time when Meira Paibis and militants worked in tandem. But at that time we thought that militant’s demands were justified and we supported them, but now we realize our mistake. These militants have turned their guns towards us. There is no question of supporting or aligning ourselves with them. They (militants) are our enemies and they should be finished”.
Miscreants are not sparing any section of the society. The same is obvious in numerous resentment rallies, against UG activities, by the populace. There is a need to treat women as equal partners and not a weaker sex. There is need to respect the natural biology of the fairer sex. There is need to develop respect for our creator. Now is time to finish the thought of militancy and not the militants who are also the sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. All women need to be supported in every possible way to create a society, where no women is disrespected, no mother loses her son, no sister loses her brother, no wife loses her husband, no parent loses old age support, no child loses the father and society does not lose the constructive strength of the youth due to avoidable violence. Always Remember!
“Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, not out of his feet to be trampled underfoot, but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, near his heart to be loved.”
Geoffery
(Readers can reach out to the writer via email: jaey_geoffery@yahoo.co.in Or post views on blog: jaey-geoffery.blogspot.com)
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