Ima Keithel | Lotus Silk

• Context: Manipur Tableau featured a women-run market, ‘Ima Keithel‘ and ‘Thambalgi Langla ‘(Lotus Threads), a lotus silk-making process.
• Manipur’s Tableau highlighted women’s role in socio-economic development.
• Some of Manipur’s globally acclaimed woven cloth made by women, including the Leirum Phi, Moirang Phi, and Mayek-Naibi, were also showcased. Two of them have GI tags.

Ima Keithel

• Manipur, the ‘Jewel of India’, is home to a one-of-a-kind 500-year-old market called ‘Ima Keithel’, which is located in Khwairamband Bazaar in Imphal.
• It is solely run and managed by women and is reportedly the world’s largest all-women market.
• ‘Ima Keithel’ literally means ‘Mother’s Market’.
• It stands as the world’s only market entirely managed by female traders, symbolising the strength of ‘nari shakti’ or women’s power.
• Around 5000-6000 women vendors operate here, offering diverse products.
• Male traders face penalties if found operating in the market.
• In February 2023, delegates of B20 from the G20 forum visited the Ima Market.

History

• The market was established in the 16^th century following the imposition of the labour system, lallup-kaba in 1533 CE.
• The lallup-kaba was a forced labour system in the Manipur Kingdom that required male members of the Meitei ethnicity to work in distant lands or to serve in the army.
• As a consequence, women had to support their households by cultivating their fields or weaving textiles and then selling the products on improvised markets.

'Thambalgi Langla' (Lotus Threads)

• Bijiyashanti Tongbram from Thanga village, located in the heart of Loktak Lake, recently became India's first lotus silk producer.
• Her achievements earned her the prestigious 'Changemaker of the Northeast 2020' award.
• Lotus silk is considered a highly exclusive fibre.
• Lotus silk is counted as one of the finest fabrics produced in the country. This has established India as the world's fourth-largest exporter of lotus silk.
  • The top three countries are Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• The lotus thread is similar to that of muga silk, and the only difference lies in the strength. Muga silk is stronger than lotus.
• The finished products are as good as silk.
• As the lotus thread is delicate, traditional handlooms are used instead of machines.