For over 63 years since 1958, unknown to the world , the Indian government imposed a martial law called the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act on 45 million indigenous peoples who live in the region of Manipur and Northeast India, a geo-strategic region that borders 5 countries. Over 50,000 have killed in the region besides numerous incidences of rights violations. This is one of the world’s forgotten crisis.
To protest the martial law and the killings, indigenous peoples of Manipur such as the “Meira Paibi” movement, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared have initiated strong resistance. The HCRI Landmark lecture draws on the practical field work of the speaker and delves on theories of Michael Foucault, Achille Mbembe and Banu Barga et al to build and throw light on how this oppression is deepened over the years with massive military camps and control structures. The lecture will also throw light on ongoing strong "necro-resistance" by the people of Manipur especially the extraordinary struggle by the indigenous women known as Meira Paibis to resist weaponization and militarisation that demonstrates the strong and sustained resilience and resistance that continues till today.
Ms. Binalakshmi "Bina" Nepram is an indigenous scholar and woman human rights defender, whose work focuses on deepening democracy and championing women-led peace, security, and disarmament in Manipur, Northeast India, and South Asia. She is the founder of three organizations: the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, the Control Arms Foundation of India, and the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice, and Peace.
She has authored and edited five books, including Deepening Democracy, Diversity, and Women’s Rights in India (2019), Where Are Our Women in Decision Making? (2016), and South Asia’s Fractured Frontier (2002), Meckley : A Historical Fiction on Manipur (2004).
Bina’s work has garnered international recognition, including the Anna Politskovskaya Award (2018), Women have Wings Award (2016), CNN IBN Real Heroes Award (2011), Ashoka Social Innovators Fellowship (2011), and the Sean MacBride Peace Prize (2010). In 2013, the U.K.-based Action on Armed Violence named her one of “100 most influential people in the world working in armed violence reduction.”
Bina is also a board member of the world's oldest peace organisation namely the Geneva based-International Peace Bureau (IPB), the 1910 Nobel Peace Laureate and currently a fellow at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government's Carr Centre for Human Rights.
This event will be available both online via Zoom, as well as being streamed on South Campus (venue tbc).
