Nupi Lal, meaning Women’s War, tells the story of two powerful uprisings in Manipur where women stepped forward to defend their people when no one else could. The First Nupi Lal happened in 1904, where the British colonial officials tried to force Manipuri men into Lalup, a system of unpaid labour that had already been abolished. When the men were pushed to the brink, it was the women who flooded the streets. They surrounded the colonial office, stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and demanded the forced labour order be withdrawn. Atlast, the British backed down. Years later, Manipur faced a devastating rice shortage because British agents were exporting local rice for profit. Families starved. Women watched their children go hungry. And again, they rose. On December 12, 1939, thousands of women marched, blocked warehouses, and confronted authority head-on to stop the shipments. Their movement forced reforms and protected their community. These weren’t warriors with weapons; they were just ordinary women with extraordinary courage. Today, December 12 is observed annually as Nupi Lal Day to commemorate the bravery of these women. Nupi Lal is remembered not only as a fight against injustice, but as a moment when women proved that collective strength can shift history itself. Their legacy still inspires movements for rights, justice, and equality today.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17uxH5Aw4H/?mibextid=wwXIfr
