The Torch

Meira foregrounds the historic and continuing resistance of the Meira Paibi, “women with torches” of Manipur. Emerging in response to the pervasive climate of fear produced by the enforcement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the film traces how ordinary women transformed themselves into vigilant custodians of their communities. Meira situates the movement within a longer genealogy of women-led resistance in Manipur.