Imphal: The Meira Paibis, often referred to as the “Guardians of Civil Society,” marked their 45th Foundation Day across Manipur on Monday, with the main event held at the All Phumlou Community Hall.
The All Manipur Women Social Reformation and Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj) organized the celebration.
Nupi Samaj president Ramani Leima, speaking at the event, called on all Meira Paibi groups in the state to cooperate and unite against external forces to restore peace in the volatile border region. She noted that the Meira Paibis are working to integrate with the Indian government despite efforts to divide them along communal lines, particularly since May 2023.
Highlighting the group’s longstanding activism, Leima said the Meira Paibis have consistently demanded the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur. She recalled their leadership in mass protests, torch rallies, and iconic naked protests, such as those during the 2004 Th. Manorama case, against alleged human rights abuses. Their sustained efforts contributed to the partial withdrawal of AFSPA from Imphal in 2004.
Leima emphasized that the Meira Paibis continue to protest against the reimposition of AFSPA amid ongoing ethnic violence, organizing rallies to demand its repeal.
The Meira Paibi movement began in 1977 in what is now Kakching district. It derives its name from the flaming torches that women carry while marching through lanes, bylanes, and city streets, often at night. The Foundation Day event in Imphal saw participation from women leaders across the state, with similar celebrations reported in other districts.
UNICEF has recognized the Meira Paibis as a strong nonviolent resistance movement, noting that the Manipur experience demonstrates how women’s active involvement in public affairs can improve conditions for children and society at large.