Sharmila's Fasting!

Irom Sharmila is a Manipuri lady and she is fasting. Aamaran Uposhan (fasting until death). I heard of her a few years ago, amidst reports of various protests against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. And then she slipped out of my mind. Protests keep happening here and there, its a large and diverse country after all.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) gives the armed forces powers to arrest, beat or kill anyone anywhere without so much as a warrant or a paper written about it. No questions asked. An emergency measure adopted in 1958 to tackle insurgency in specific areas of the country.
I shall refrain from giving accounts of the horrible crimes against innocent 'Indians' who are victims of this state sponsored violence, which is meant to protect them! Why this law? Well the seperatist forces in these areas need to be curbed you see, so its ok to kill, beat, rape and loot in the process. What will happen if unpatriotic rebels are not controlled? Well, that purpose isnt being exactly served either. However,in 2004 it forced the women of Manipur to take extreme steps like protest stark naked with only a banner saying 'Indian Army Rape Us', a desperate act to protest against this denial to justice.

Sharmila is still fasting! Fasting for the last ten years, right after she first decided to fast until the law was repealed. Ten years how? Well the police arrest her periodically when she becomes weak and then force feed her. Even her hands are tied lest she takes the tubes out of her body. The lady remains undaunted. The minute she is released, the fasting is on! Ten years of non-violent protest, in the hope that one day, things will change...

A group from Kerala is moving towards Imphal, to show their solidarity to Irom Sharmila. They are visiting Bangalore, Chennai, Vijaywada, Pune, Bhopal, Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati on their way to Imphal; to tell people of the suffering of our fellow citizens.To let peple know there is some such thing happening amidst our own country. They were in Pune on the 16th of May. Sharmila was brought to life, in Malyali and then in Hindi/ English, to speak of her life, of being a north-eastern, of living under constant fear, of the lovely lands and the woeful circumstances. She posed many questions... Do we recognise the north- easterns as Indians? Is there any mention of a Manipuri, Naga or Assamese Freedom figheter in our history texts? Of their rich culture? Do we know about the lack of development in the region? Do you know that there isnt a train from Delhi to Imphal?
I didnt!