Nupi Maanbi : Transgenders Of Manipur Who Went From Being Accepted To Ostracised To Now Finding Own Voices

The transgender people of Manipur, known as Nupi Maanbi, have had a colourful history - from being accepted in society to being ostracised to now finally finding their own voices.

The Supreme Court of India allowed transgender people to identify as a third gender and directed the central and state governments to give full legal recognition to them. Yet, almost 24 years later, transgenders are still not accepted as an equal part of society.

Thus the history of the Nupi Maanbis hold much relevance today since those of the third gender in the State and the nation overall continue to be silenced by society out of shame for their natural identity.?

Male at birth but identifying as female?

Nupi Maanbis are transgender people of Manipur in Northeast India. In Manipuri society, the term connotes one assigned a "male" at birth but choosing to live with a feminine identity.?

Nupi Maanbis/ The Vice

The term came about in the 21st century, but such identities have existed for a long time.?

Traditional acceptance?

In traditional Manipuri society, gender non-conforming people were accepted as a natural part.?

Termed pheitas, they were employed in the administration of the Meitei kings for performing various tasks like guarding certain quarters of the palace and dispensing justice amongst the royal women.?

They were also associated with the sacred space of Kangla, the ancient capital fort of the Meitei kings. Those pheitas believed to have divine powers were even sent to learn worship rituals and become shamans.?

However, it is important to note that concepts of equality, rights and freedom are modern ideas that did not exist then - all that mattered then was the functionality of labour.?

The Third Burmese invasion (1819-1826) devastated the valley of Manipur and eroded the importance of Kangla. The decline of old forms of kingship thus also led to the disappearance of the concept of pheitas, thereby removing gender plurality from the mainstream.?

This continued with the British colonial rule, which introduced policies like the Criminal Tribes Act that criminalised gender non-conforming groups like the hijra.?

Transgender people as artists in theatre?

Over time, gender non-conforming people came to be seen as 'defects'. Social stigma and taboos lead such people to keep their identities a secret.

But there is one space of expression - the stage of 'Shumang Leela' where transgendering is actually an artistic feat.?

Shumang literally means courtyard, and leela means play. So, shumang leela means play of the courtyard.?

It is a traditional form of theatre in Manipur which is organised in an open area.?

The art of female impersonation is a distinctive feature of shumang leela, where male actors play the role of female characters.?

But this acceptance remained confined to the art form, and they continued to be discriminated against in the larger society.?

By the 1980s, with advocacy against HIV-AIDS, the nupi maanbi communities were ostracised since they were believed to be a major route of HIV transmission.?

In this way, from being socially accepted during the Meitei kingship to ostracised and stigmatised later, the transgender people in Manipur became the 'other'.?

Neither were they manly enough to be accepted in the cultural role of a man nor were they considered modest enough to be deemed a woman by society.?

Own safe space?

But nupi maanbis did not accept this rejection lying down.?

The 21st century nupi maanbi has established a niche for themselves in the beauty parlour and overall fashion industries, gaining jobs as beauticians, weavers, etc.

Apart from economic success, they also claim their own spaces in the cultural realm.?

While nupi maanbis are excluded from cultural spaces meant for Manipuri women, like community dance festivals and beauty contests, they organise their own such festivals at the State level.?

Inching towards acceptance - Nupi maanbis gifted ‘Emagi Phanek’ on International Transgender Day of Visibility in March 2022/ East Mojo

Society does resist at times: for instance, various civil society vigilantes have demanded nupi maanbis dress modestly and not disrespect Manipuri womanhood.?

But one thing is for sure - the visibility of nupi maanbis, as they resist the set norms and fight to express their unique identities - can no longer be ignored by society.??

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