Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being – UN Theme for World Indigenous Peoples’ Day, observed on August 9, 2026, with the official United Nations virtual commemoration held on August 10, 2026.
By Yaiphaba Khumanthem
Sometime around the first week of August when I first learned about the theme for World Indigenous Peoples’ Day— “Honoring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being” —my thoughts immediately turned to my grandmother and the many stories she shared with me about her childhood. As I listened to her memories, I realized they were not merely family anecdotes, but also windows into a way of life that has all but vanished.
My grandmother was the eldest daughter in her family. During her mother’s pregnancies, much of the household responsibility fell upon her young shoulders. She looked after her younger siblings, cooked, cleaned, fetched water, and managed daily chores while her mother prepared for childbirth.
Her father was a member of the Pala Loisang, the institution responsible for performing the sacred seva of Shri Shri Govindaji. His duties in the service of the deity often kept him away from home, leaving my grandmother to shoulder even greater responsibilities. She would often say, “There were very few doctors in those days. Almost every child in our family was delivered by a traditional midwife. Your great-grandmother gave birth to all her children at home. We spread dry straw on the floor, covered it with a bedsheet, and that became the delivery bed.”
One story that has stayed with me is about the birth of her younger brother during the Second World War—a period remembered in Manipur as the Japan Lan . Imphal was under continuous aerial bombardment by Japanese forces, forcing many families to flee their homes. As a member of the Pala Loisang , my great-grandfather accompanied Shri Shri Govindaji when the deity was moved to a safer location. My grandmother’s family also had to leave their home and seek refuge. Amid the chaos of war and emergencies, the traditional midwife remained by the side of expectant mothers, ensuring that childbirth continued with care, courage, and compassion—despite the absence of modern medical facilities.
In Manipur, these traditional midwives were known as Mayok Maibi , Chabok Maibi , and Chabokpi . They were much more than birth attendants. They guided women through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. They prepared herbal medicines, gave massages, advised women on diet and rest, and offered comfort and reassurance. For many women, they were healers, counsellors, and trusted companions.
Their knowledge was passed down through generations via observation and experience. They understood the medicinal value of local herbs and knew how to care for mothers and newborns using traditional healing practices. Their work reflected a holistic understanding of health, recognizing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women and their families.
Today, much of this knowledge is slowly disappearing. As hospitals and modern healthcare have become more accessible, the role of traditional midwives has gradually diminished. While modern medicine has brought significant improvements in maternal healthcare, it has also contributed to the decline of many Indigenous practices that once sustained communities.
Ironically, many rituals and ceremonial aspects associated with the Maibi tradition have been carefully documented and preserved. Yet the equally significant role of the Mayok Maibi , Chabok Maibi , and Chabokpi —as midwives, healers, and trusted advisers to women—has received far less attention. Their contribution to maternal healthcare, traditional healing, and community well-being deserves proper recognition and documentation.
If we do not record their stories now, we risk losing an invaluable part of our heritage. Their knowledge of childbirth, herbal medicine, and women’s healthcare is a living tradition that deserves to be preserved for future generations.
As we observed World Indigenous Peoples’ Day under the theme “Honoring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,” I remember my grandmother’s stories with deep gratitude. Through her memories, I came to appreciate the quiet strength of the women who welcomed generations of children into the world—often during times of hardship and uncertainty. Their names may never appear in history books, but their wisdom, compassion, and dedication helped sustain families and communities. Their legacy deserves to be remembered, respected, and passed on.
Even today, midwives continue to play an important role in rural and hilly areas where modern healthcare services are not readily available.
(Yaiphaba Khumanthem is a Research Scholar at DMU, Manipur.)