MOTHER’S MARKET

A very unique all- women market, Ima Keithal, or Mother’s Market runs successfully in Imphal, the Capital of Manipur. While this over 500-year-old market is the world’s largest, and perhaps the only, all-women market, several small Mother’s Markets exist across this state.

The market was established in the 16th century following the imposition of a forced labour system, lallup- kaba in 1533 CE that required male members of the Meitei ethnicity to work in distant lands or to serve in the army. As a consequence of the system, women had  to  support their households by cultivating their fields or weaving  textiles and then selling the products on improvised markets.

The improvised markets led to the formation of the organized Ima Keithel, which is a huge source of livelihood for some 3,615 licensed female vendors registered with the Imphal Municipal Corporation. A majority of the vendors, known as “imas”, or mothers, are in the age group of 50-70 years.

Ima Keithal, also known as Ima Market, sells a variety of products, from vegetables and fruits to spices, fish, toys, utensils, textiles and clothing. Men can enter the market as customers but cannot be a vendor.

The Ima Market, with its shops run by women in their traditional  attire, is a popular tourist attraction. The women vendors organize various traditional  festivals and events. They also help each other and guide any woman wishing to set up shop in this market.

During the British colonial period, the Ima Market became an apex centre for campaigns for social messages and also against British rule as well. In 1891, the British colonial administration tried to introduce stringent political and economic reforms, involving high taxes, seizure and export of food crops from Manipur without consideration for local requirements. This led to agitations by the women of the Ima Keithel and in response, the British attempted to sell off the assets and properties of the market to foreigners and external buyers. But the women of Manipur stood firm against the British and defended their market aggressively to their success.

Another   fall- out of this was the formation of the “Nupi Lana” (Women’s War) movement in 1939 to revolt against the atrocities of the British. Protest rallies, mass gatherings and campaigns were held to denounce the British policies and measures. This movement eventually ceased with the Japanese invasion of India.