Top 10 Points to Know About Irom Sharmila Chanu And Her Fast Unto Death

By: W Rorrkychand Singh

 

“Wake up brothers and sisters
The savior of the nation
We have come out all the way
Knowing we all will die
Why the fear is
So shaky in the heart?

I am bidding farewell
Yet longing for life
Though birth is followed by death
So fond of to accomplice
My desired mission”,

read a poem by Irom Sharmila Chanu, who is on a fast unto-death against the imposition of Armed Forces Special Forces-1958 (AFSPA) in the North-Eastern states of India.

However, her decade long demand to repeal the controversial law that empowers the armed  forces personals to shoot anyone at mere suspicious (under Section 4(a) of AFSPA-1958) is yet to be heard by the Central lawmakers.

The 40-year-old living legend is currently in judicial custody at the state run Jawaharlal Nehru Medical Hospital in Imphal, the capital of Manipur.

Here are top 10 points to know about Sharmila and her fast unto death:

1. Launched her agitation:- in the wake of Malom Massacre(2000), which claimed the lives of 10 civilians, she launched her fast unto death on Nov. 4, 2000 demanding to revoke AFSPA-1958 from the Manipur soil.

2. Arrest/remand:- for the first time, she was arrested on the third day of her fast under section 309 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) charged with “attempt to commit suicide. Since then she has been remanded in the judicial custody (state authority made her appear before the court for every 15 days).

3. Force Feeding:- in order to keep her alive and to refrain from possible aftermath of her demise the state government force feed her twice a daily (a cocktail of vitamins and nutrients) through her nose (nasogastric intubations).

4. Protest in Delhi:- in a bid to draw the attention of Central government, Sharmila shifted her fasting venue from JN Hospital to national capital, New Delhi in October 4, 2006. However, a frustrated Sharmila returned to Manipur, as the Central government leaders lend no ears to her demand.

5. Imphal Free From AFSPA:- Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh announced to lift AFSPA-1958 from seven assembly constituencies in greater Imphal area on 11 August, 2004. Minutes after the announcement, Special Secretary (Home) Government of Manipur, S Dinokumar Singh issued a notification lifting the act from the areas.

6. Jeevan Reddy Committee:- A 147 pages of report on AFSPA-1958 by Justice BP Jeevan Reddy Committee recommended that “”The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, should be repealed,” “The Act is too sketchy, too bald and quite inadequate in several particulars.”

7. International attention:- Nominated to Nobel Prize, she was nominated to nobel prize by the North-East Network, a Guwahati-based women organization. Latter she was awarded with, Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, for her promotion and advocacy of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in the region.

8. Decade Long fast:- on November 4, 2010, Sharmila’s agitation entered a decade, however, her demands are still to be heard by the lawmakers.

9. Letter To Anna Hazare:- In response to an invitation sent by anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare which seeked Sharmila’s support and participation in the nationwide campaign against corruption, she wrote back, “My humble suggestion is if you feel seriously; please try to reach the concerned legislators (read authorities) to let me get free, like yours, to join your amazing crusade to root out corruption – which is the root of all evils. Or you can come to Manipur, the most corruption affected region in the world,” reads the letter dated 23, August 2011.

10. Met her mother:- after 11 years the iron lady of Manipur met her mother on May 31, 2012 in J Hospital where she has been kept for more than a decade.

 

A Profile of Irom Chanu Sharmila

Name: Irom Chanu Sharmila (“Iron Lady Of Manipur”)

DOB: March 14, 1972

Birthplace: Kongpal, Imphal, Manipur, India

Designation: Civil rights activist

Agitation style: Non-violent

Inception: Nov. 2, 2000

Cause: The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958)

Demand: Repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958)

Acclamation and recognitions:

• Nominated to Nobel Peace Prize by the North East Network in 2005
• Recipient of “Gwangju Prize for Human Rights” in 2007
• “Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize” in 2010
• “Sarva Gunah Sampannah Award for Peace and Harmony” in 2010
• “Adivasi Ratna Award” in 2011

Interest: Poetry.

Suggested Material:

• “Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the Struggle for Peace in Manipur” by Deepti Priya Mehrotra and published by Penguin Books India.
• A short documentary, “My Body My Weapon”, by Kavita Joshi, released in 2007.
• A mono-play titled “Le Mashale” (“Take the torch”) by Pune-based theatre artiste Ojas S.

Campaign:

• Save Sharmila Campaign, jointly launched by network of various civil societies in India.
• Just Peace Foundation, formed to promote the cause of Irom Chanu Sharmila.

* The story  is sent by W Rorrkychand Singh-Freelance Journalist,Kumbi Mayai Leikai, Kumbi, PO- Moirang,PS- Kumbi, Dist- Bishnipur,Manipur. He can be reached at rorrky{at}gmail{dot}com