The stance of Iron Lady of Manipur – a pyrrhic victory

Samarjit Kambam *

Irom Chanu Sharmila produced before Chief Judicial Magistrage(CJM), Imphal on 5th April 2016 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

After sixteen plus years of fast in protest against the dreaded spine-chilling Malom Massacre on Nov 2, 2000 where 10 innocent lives were mowed down by Assam Rifles personnel, it seems, Irom Sharmila Chanu, the Iron Lady of Manipur has gone butter startling everyone in Manipur and the world with her sudden revelation that she'd discontinue her fast. Nobody expected that after all those years of fast, she'd make such a rowdy decision, a decision to enter politics as her platform to fight against AFSPA, 1958 and make her dreams come true.

In a democratic country, everyone has the right to make his or her own decisions, positive decisions, I mean. But positivity in Sharmila's decision seems to have gone a bit off-track. She announced that she will be breaking her fast with effect from her next date of hearing at Cheirap Court i.e. from Aug 9, start a new life, get married, most preferably to Goan born British citizen Desmond Coutinho. Well, it's her personal life, we have no right to interfere against her. She expressed that the public's support towards her after all those years of fasting against the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 is waning exponentially.

But in my opinion, she has jumped to conclusion too hastily. Well, everybody has got their own commitments, to earn a livelihood for their family, to keep the kitchen fire burning, but that doesn't mean that deep in our inner conscience Sharmila's has been kept out of the picture or at the backburner. In fact, we all morally support her. In Manipur, with the political weather always gloomy, being ruled by selfish politicians who are concerned only about winning votes, her decision has got some rationality too.

However, the status quo tantamounts to swimming more than halfway across the river and swimming back again fearing that the other side of the bank could not be reached out of exhaustion. Now, Sharmila's 16 plus years of superhuman deed has gone down the drain, become sort of a mockery, a damp squib. The armed forces may be celebrating heartily in their respective units just like a gala celebration after winning a war.

The startling jolt of shock to the public on Sharmila's stance after she has blazed a trail where there was no path, where others fear to tread is palpable and hanging thick in the air. Many questions galore whether the decision to quit her fast is her own or under duress or bait being lured by some rancid politicians leaving her in a state of betwixt. She expressed that the various civil society organisations kept on monitoring her but do nothing to further her cause.

Here, it is pertinent to mention that she received various awards of national and international level viz, Gwangju Prize for Human Rights from South Korea in 2007, which is given to an outstanding person or group, active in the promotion and advocacy of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, the first Mayillama Award of the Mayillama Foundation in 2009 for achievement of her non-violent struggle in Manipur.

She was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian Human Rights Commission and Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize in 2010. Even Irom Sharmila Scholarship Awards for students were instituted in her honour. She has been conferred with a host of other awards such as Kovilan Smaraka Activist India National Award, ironically she refused to accept most of them. She got the title of "Iron Lady of Manipur" because of the efforts of the various civil society organisations with various other campaigns even from outside the state on the fore such as "Save Sharmila Campaign".

She is almost on the verge of getting Nobel Prize for Peace and she sure will if she continued on her fast relentlessly. And how about the various Meira Paibi organisations who stood for her since the beginning of her endeavour since Nov 2, 2000? Even her mother and elder brother supported her to the best of their capacity. Getting herself rejigged to this barmy affair has left many wondering, has left many in a state of chagrin. Or has Coutinho used her as a bandage for his wound in the name of love? Or was she concealing her raring mind in mayhem all these years?

Maybe she has lost faith in the political system and presence of 'ghost in the machine' of democracy with the Indian democracy becoming more and more demon-cratic. In fact, it is a democracy where killers and murderers go scot free and peace seekers, peace lovers and peace activists are brought to book. She has been following the footpath of Mahatma Gandhi – a footpath of peace and non-violence. In fact, it is a movement or most appropriately a revolution in a non-violent way following Gandhi's principles. She can in no way be termed as a criminal as she is not destroying any public property nor committing any crime, nor hurting any member of the society or pillaging anything except bringing down her own health.

When democracy stands for the people, it is a wonder on the part of Indian government in failing to find out why a citizen of the very nation had been taking such an extreme step of fasting more than 16 years. Those ruling the country should know that there are some flaws in the system whereby such drastic steps are taken up by its very own citizens. Instead, to prevent skeletons from falling down from the cupboard, she is being counter-charged by the government of Indian Union to save its face. But, it is not a viable solution and a very undemocratic way of treating its own citizen.

On the flip side, I really wonder whether Sharmila is really aware of what politics is. Politics is nothing but a devilish and deadly entity. In politics, particularly with India in general and Manipur in particular, politics is a dirty game where right is wrong and wrong is right. We take out and throw away a rotten potato from amongst a heap of fresh potatoes. But politics is tantamount to a state of affair where a fresh potato is handpicked and thrown away from amongst the rotten potatoes.

Emerging victorious as a Member of Legislative Assembly of Khurai Assembly Constituency may turn out to be a piece of cake for Sharmila. Being a frequenter to Kongpal Kongkham Leikai, during my youthful "John Player" years, I am crystal clear that over and above her iconic status, there is a huge bunch of group of families of Irom sagei (surname) and the votes being poured upon her by Irom sageis, their relatives, near and dear ones and friends alongwith the people of the constituency who love her for her superhuman deeds and sympathy votes are more than enough for her to emerge victorious in the next Assembly election of Khurai Assembly Constituency provided there is no grudge, vendetta, animosity, disparity of mindset and conflict of interest among the Iroms.

The to-be candidates of Khurai Assembly Constituency must be having daymares over and above nightmares on this recent development. One thing to be kept in mind is that, unlike in the Wild Wild West (of the past), one cannot change the system by being a vigilante – totting guns, wiping out the scums of the society and bring a considerable change to the system. There is no vigilantism in politics. If you are a vigilante (fresh potato) on the political platform, you'll be thrown out from the power-packed flock.

However, we, your staunch followers appreciate and convey our heartfelt regards for the superhuman deeds you have performed and the pain you have endured all these 16 plus years for our better future without letting a drop of water nor a morsel of food on your taste buds, a deed which we won't be able to carry out during our lifetime. Iron Lady, we will stand by you through thick and thin and will always be your follower in whatever action you take up. We, your staunch followers wish you all the best in all your future endeavours as your life unfolds into a new chapter.