ROLE OF MANIPURI MUSLIM WOMEN IN AGRARIAN ECONOMY: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

An agrarian system is associated with agricultural production and trade. The Indian economy, since ancient times, was mainly dependent on agriculture. Revenues collected from various agricultural products were used to manage infrastructure development, defense, territorial expansions, etc. Since ancient time Manipur has been inhabited by various ethnic groups and agriculture was the main occupation of the people. The Manipuri Muslims or the Meitei Pangal is one of the important communities of the State. They also actively participated in political related issues for the welfare of the people since the medieval period. They settled in Manipur since 17th century and adopted the Meitei way of life, traditional method of earning their livelihood and performed various occupations. They were well known for their involvement in socio-economic and political life of the state. Agriculture was not only a way of life but also a means of livelihood of this community. The agriculture practices like transplanting, weeding, reaping and basking of paddy are mainly managed by the womenfolk. They also played a crucial role in meeting household needs by preparing food, caring for children and elderly family members, maintaining kitchen gardens, engaging in weaving and spinning, and undertaking the rearing of cattle and poultry. The paper attempts to present a particular configuration of the agricultural practices and its economy of the Manipuri Muslim that prevailed in Manipur from the early times to the colonial period.