“I am an Indian-American citizen. This is not the India that I grew up in. I call on all the right-minded Hindus, Muslims, and Christians to reject this idea of India. This is not the India that I proudly defend to my American friends.”
— Florence Nianghoihlun Lowe to The Quint
The North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) had written to the National Commission for Women (NCW), seeking attention to the sexual violence against Kuki-Zo women, one whole month before the distressing video of two women being paraded naked went viral on social media on July 19. But no action was taken, Florence Nianghoihlun Lowe (née Gwite), who heads NAMTA, told The Quint.
“I am an Indian-American citizen. This is not the India that I grew up in. I call on all the right-minded Hindus, Muslims, and Christians to reject this idea of India. This is not the India that I proudly defend to my American friends,” Florence Nianghoihlun Lowe told The Quint.
“As women, for us to talk about things like this and not be believed, for a video to be shown to the world, it is extremely distressing, as you can imagine,” Florence said.
Incidentally, Florence and her family were also personally impacted by the unrest – with her parents’ home in Manipur completely burnt down
Born in Imphal, Manipur, Florence is a tech entrepreneur who moved to the United States in the 1990s. She, along with other members of her community in the US, formed the NAMTA between May 4 and 5, just a few hours after ethnic violence broke out in Manipur.
Incidentally, Florence and her family were also personally impacted by the unrest – with her parents’ home in Manipur completely burnt down.
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