Ima Keithel – The oldest woman run market of Asia, a vocal flux of women voices in Manipur

As I moved into the market, I began to hear an amalgam of sounds of people haggling for the goods; the women vendors griping about what happened at their home in the morning, and some groups discussing about the consistent bandhs. It was a welcoming vibe indeed!

I looked at the phaneks (traditional female lower attire) and moved closer to one vendor. I think it was the unique phanek which drew my inclination towards her. With a camera and a notepad in my hand, she knew that I was there for more than a reason to buy goods at the market.

Then we gradually began to unravel the historical issues and the present condition of the Ima Keithel. And I met one vendor after another and discussed their subjective experience being at the market for over a period of time.

How did it start?

Ima Market, known as “Ima Keithel”, is arguably known to be one of the oldest and largest women-run-markets in Asia. The word ‘Ima keithel’ is coined from a Manipuri word in which Ima means “mother” and keithel means “market” in Manipuri dialect. So, it seems pretty obvious now why the market is solely run by mothers and not just any women. The accurate date of its establishment is left unknown, however, it is said by the legends of the market that it has all started since the time of the British Colonial. At those times, when their husbands were busy for a battle against China and Myanmar, they did all they could to sustain the family’s needs. It was when the Manipuri mothers started out their venture in trading.

A 65-years-old vendor said to me that she would go out and sell goods at the market which were either traded from outside the state or from her garden. It signified how mothers were a contributing agent to the family and the society.

Despite the fact that many other women run and organised markets have emerged in the Imphal city and other districts of Manipur, there has not been any market which has a whopping number of vendors and has created a historic significant like the Ima keithel.

What’s sold here?

At such interesting place where you could only hear the voices of women louder than anywhere else, varieties of goods are sold. The market has been divided into two sections where one section sells beautifully weaved handlooms and the other sells groceries and household items.

Most of the items sold here are made by the locals. The 5,000 women vendors at the market sell goods such as shawls, bangles, ritual items, earthenware, vegetables, fish, herbs, and the list goes on.

How has it been a pivotal instrument in empowering women?

The vendors here are a symbol of liberalism, self-reliance, women empowerment and gender equality. They do all they could to contribute to their families. They all are hard-working mothers who continue to strive for a stable livelihood, regardless of what their husbands are doing. I came across different vendors and figured out that some of their husbands and sons are government employees. However, to the mothers here, the zeal to earn for their livelihood has never ceased.

One of the vendors I met has ignited my mind with her words by saying,
 “We should not settle just because we are women. We should find a way to contribute and see what one can do as an individual. We cannot depend on our family or our husband all the time”.

Through the discussion with various vendors, I came to know that they are also involved in the decision making in the family. As they are the ones accumulating income for the family, they do have a voice in the family. Thereby, the market has given them a platform to earn and has enabled them to be a decision maker in the family.

The market has also empowered women groups to raise their voices so that they can be heard loud and clear. There have been significant historical events as such. One such event gains specific prominence. During the colonial rule in India, British government tried to take control of the local economy by thwarting marketplaces like Ima Keithel. All the women vendors stood united against the British power and declared a women’s war called “Nupi Lan” against the British in 1939 to save the market from foreign invasions.

On another instance, they fought against all odds and negotiated with the government when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the market building in 2016 and major parts were collapsed. All the women vendors, being together, insisted the government renovate the buildings in a short period of time. In order that their demand is granted, they held a protest in front of the government offices and approached the concerned government officials for the quick renovation of the building.  And it took two years to completely finish the building and the women began to occupy their space again.

Despite the fact that the Ima Keithel is known as a symbol of women empowerment, the women vendors are under the authority of Imphal Municipal Council. The terms and conditions for opening a stall are all governed by the Council – “comprising mostly of male members” – as said by one of the vendors.

What drastic changed has happened in the economy?

In January, 2016, when an earthquake shook the whole market, it left massive cracks with several casualties. It did not only leave a physical damage, however, shook the economy as well. An old vendor said
“When natural calamities hit the market, it disturbed our business a lot. We have shifted for temporary to the keithel nearby Johnstone School. But, our business did not go well as it used to be. We did not profit much as there were only a few customers”.

Now that the building has been renovated, it is hopeful that the vendors recovered from the disruption in the economy. A group of vendors said to me
“This place is more prominent as it is widely known as an International Market. It intrigues people especially tourists by its enormous number of women. We could now sell more items than the temporary site”.
Ima keithel has regained its essence and there is now a smooth functioning of trading within the market after the natural calamities.

Ima keithel – Today

Most of the vendors at the market have been opening their stalls since a long time. One of the vendors have been selling goods in the market for more than 60 years.

The market is run by a group of women coming from different socio-economic backgrounds. As it captivates people’s attention, there are vendors coming from all places. Some are temporary, of which they did not obtain a permanent stall and sell their items outside the market at a very low price. This, in turn, affects the business of the permanent vendors at the market. So far, this has been the major complaints of the vendors.

Lamneihoi Vaiphei | Milaap