“The Mothers of Manipur: Twelve Women Who Made History”— is a story of “Indian Army Rape Us” protest
Monitoring Desk: The Mothers of Manipur: Twelve Women Who Made History a book written by Teresa Rehman will be officially launched in Delhi on June 28, 2017 and will reveal atrocities being faced by women of seven sister states of India where raping a woman by Indian Army is a norm.
An unfortunate scene unfolds on July 15, 2004 in front of Kangla Fort (Imphal –Manipur, India), the headquarters of the Assam Rifles, a unit of the Indian army.
Soldiers and officers watch aghast as twelve women, all in their sixties and seventies, position themselves in front of the gates and then, one by one, strip themselves naked. The Amas (mothers) of Manipur are in a cold fury, protesting the custodial rape and murder by the army of Thangjam Manorama, a 32-year-old woman suspected of being a militant.
The women hold aloft banners and shout, “Indian Army Rape Us” and “Take Our Flesh.” Never has this happened before and the army is appalled. Very soon, news of the protest goes viral. People around the country are shocked. Can this be possible? A naked protest in India by Indian mothers?
In this unusual book, journalist Teresa Rehman tells the story of these twelve women, the momentous decision they took, and how they carried it out with precision and care. In doing so she connects the reader to the broader history of conflict-torn Manipur and the courage and resistance of its people—in particular its women.
Discussants are: Ms. Preeti Gill, Editor & Literary Agent will Chair the programme and the panel consisting of Dr. Lianboi Vaiphei, Professor, Political Science Dept. Indraprastha College; Ms. Pamela Philipose, Editor, The Wire; Dr. Seema Kazi, Centre for Women’s Development Studies will discuss the book.
