Give Sharmila a breathing space
- Part 1 -

Dr Th Suresh Singh *

Irom Sharmila produced before JMIC, Lamphelpat on 18 Oct 2014 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

Similarly valley brethren and Women's organisations should have a deep look into why Sharmila decided to end her fast. Time for us to treat her with deep affection and gentle care. We cannot throw her away like a placard. We have to give her a proper place to live in peacefully to crystallize her future course of action.

Before her announcement to end her fast on 9/9/2016 in the court premises, I had met Sharmila twice in which she expressed her 3 desires. My association with her started the day I joined as Director of Health Services, Manipur, on 28/02/2006. Next day, i.e. on 1st March, I visited her in her security ward, met her and enquired about her health and anything expected form me as a Director. I still remember her complaint about unhygienic conditions of the surroundings, water problems, electricity problems and other minor things. These were solved in the next 2/3 months.

Subsequently, I visited her on 1st day of every month; if I have unavoidable engagements like cabinet meetings and on tour, I used to visit her on a suitable date of the month. That means, I continued to visit her at least once on every 1st day of the month till I retired as Director on 31/5/2008.

Thus I became one of the most privileged persons to meet her frequently in those tight security positions. My official position enabled me so. Her brother Shinghajit and other officials, including nurses, are witness to this special relation. I continue to meet her at least 5/6 times in a year after my retirement. I never intended to publicise it.

The latest 2 meetings took place as she sent massages of her desire to meet me. She was searching for me a couple of months ago, but could not reach me as I was away to USA.

I returned only on 13/6/20016. In the 1st meeting, she expressed 3 things – to end fast on 9th, to marry her boyfriend and to inter political arena by standing coming assembly election. I was a little amused and surprised. Though she expressed her intention to marry Goa born British citizen Desmond Coutinho in various previous meetings, the other 2 are new and unexpected.

For ending fast, I had told her to wait up to September 7/8 where the final hearing for my repeal of AFSPA case in Supreme Court is taking place. I am expecting a favourable judgement. In that case, she can have an honourable exit as the PIL is for the people of Manipur, including her. For the 2nd i.e. marriage, I have told her that it is her personal choice and as usual, I will not stand in her way.

However, I told her to consult and inform Sharmila Kanba Lup and other women's organisations as a section of them is against marriage before fulfilling her objective. I however reiterated my wish to perform a grand marriage at my house in case of marriage after fulfilling her objective. Otherwise, I would like to have a simple reception at my residence.

For the 3rd, i.e. entering political arena, I am deadly against her and told so. I told her that it is a lost-lost situation. If she wins, a section of the opposed party will be against her; if she lose, she lose her credibility. Hence, it cannot be a win-win situation. When she expressed her wish to stand as a candidate of a particular party, I deadly advised her not to join any political party as she will lose all credibility.

In the 1st meeting she was listening to my advice or plea and seems agreeable. In the 2nd meeting, she however told me her firm stand and decided to announce the same on 9th at the court premises as it was taken after long consideration. She will, however, stand as an independent candidate and will not join any party. She at least took that advice.

For all these decisions, I pleaded her to inform SHAKL, other groups and her close ones and try to carry with them. She probably felt that they were against her decisions, can't carry with and better not to meet. She however tried to meet Apunba Lup, but did not materialise.

Why Sharmila took these decisions?

The 1st and most important one is – she felt that our society is not supporting her fully and losing the same gradually. It is becoming a name-shake only. She felt that during Herojit's confession, our civil societies had a golden last chance for mass movement, but that did not crystallise.

I remember her fanatic plea to King Leishemba Sanajaoba to organise some form of hill and valley movement for the same during her meeting on 1/3/2016 at Shahid Minar. She had donated Rs 3/4 lakhs for the same, but nothing materialised. She knew that SHKL with a few members cannot organise the same. She also told me her intention to meet Apunba Lup and requested some prominent individuals to arrange the same. But, that also did not materialise.

The 2nd reason of her decision is ill-treatment of her boy friend Desmond Coutinho by a section of our society. She felt deeply hurt by those incidents and felt unjustified and uncalled for. To me, she is deeply in love with him. He had a great influence on her subsequent decisions.

The 3rd reason is multiple – like mismanagement of her trust money/utilising money without her knowledge, using her name without her approval like – publishing books contrary to her wish, coming for a forward of a coming up book which was never seen by her, putting her forward signature without her knowledge etc. She was also telling me about her becoming something like a joker-like comments in her ward – oh, she is fasting, but healthy and not bonny etc. etc.

When I enquired how her trust money can be utilised without her signature, she told me that she handed over the same to the trust in good faith but later on realised that she has no control over the trust. Her donation of about Rs 3.5 lakhs to Manipur Red Cross was also not used for the purpose she donated and diverted to some other purpose. All these had secondary effect to her decision.

ShKL and other civil societies – ShkL had special relation with her since December 2008. They had been protecting her since then. On many occasions, Sharmila told me about her appreciation of the group. Probably as time passes by, she knew that the Lup cannot organise mass movement for her.

Similarly, her Trust also did many name-worthy works in support of her. These works brought her fast world-wide attention and thereby making it more famous. Contribution of other civil societies is negligible mainly confining to moral support, a seating demonstration here and there etc. Role of our news channel is also to the minimum.

To be continued....