Imphal, Jan. 7: People today paid tribute to Kabrabam Ibempishak, who documented the historic Nupi Lal (Women's War) of 1904 and 1939. She passed away five days back at age 77.

Ibempishak was the fourth president of Nupi Lal Memorial Association, which worked relentlessly for the construction of the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex. She also created the Nupil Lal play showcased every year on the Nupi Lal Day on December 12. She belongs to Sagolband Tera Amudon Akham Leikai.

Longjamba Meitei, secretary of Nupi Lal Memorial Association Steering Committee, said, 'She has been associated with the mothers who fought against the British. She visited every place where the women's war was fought and collected materials to document for the only women's war.'

The Nupi Lal Memorial Association today organised a procession carrying the picture of Ibempishak on a palanquin with flowers from her home at Tera to the memorial complex in Imphal West. The procession was accompanied with a musical band. People paid floral tribute to Ibempishak at Nupi Lal Memorial Complex.

The first Nupi Lal took place in 1904 when Manipuri women rose in revolt against the order of the then British political representative of Manipur, P. Maxwell. The order forced the male population of the Imphal area to reconstruct the residential bungalow of an officer, which was razed by a fire. The order also directed the men to fetch timber for constructing the bungalow from Kabaw Valley, which is now a part of Myanmar.

In the second Nupi Lal that took place on December 12, 1939, thousands of Manipuri women marched towards the State Durbar Hall demanding a ban on export of locally produced rice to other states by non-local businessmen with the support of the British. It had caused a man-made famine in the state.