Give Sharmila a breathing space
- Part 2 -

Dr Th Suresh Singh *

Irom Sharmila produced before JMIC, Lamphelpat on 19 Sep 2014 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The same is true of many outside societies and groups. Some prominent figures and groups had met her, taken interviews. These are self-congratulatory and temporary in nature. The same is true of many national newspapers and national channels.

Some prominent individuals and groups had contributed large sum of money which brought disrepute between her and her Trust. Later on, she stopped taking donation together. I remember long ago telling her not to take donations because I don't want her movement to be known as money spinning one. I want the movement simple and humane.

ShAKL, her near and dear ones and a large section of our society wanted her to consult them before her announcement. Definitely they have a right too. I also feel the same and so advised accordingly. It is true that her decision shocks many. However, one has also to take her other side-view.

She suffered 15yrs. and 9 months lonely and lonely depending on nose-feeding. She only knew how the suffering was. I remember her smiling whenever she saw me in her special ward. She wanted to spend more time with me and other officials. She wanted to speak more to me and she felt happy. These are signs of loneliness. But unfortunately, I could not spend more time because of my busy schedule then.

Hence, when she took her final decision, it was bound to have disagreements. One can criticise her, one may not agree with her. That does not mean that we disown her, we out-caste her. Those groups working for her and her near and there ones should introspect why she did not want to disclose her final intention to them.

The same is true for other civil groups and individuals to introspect and ask ourselves what our contribution to her movement is. Did those who gave lip services really have the right to criticise and disown her?

All these are bound to reflect in our future history. Manipur's future history cannot be complete without Sharmila Chapter. Pages and pages are to be reserved for her. I am afraid future Manipuri history will not be kind to these groups and to many of us.

I am sure future historians will give this lonely, but much maligned and misunderstood, Manipuri girl a proper place. It is a tragedy that Central Govt. and Manipur Govt. did not honour this Gandhian by removing AFSPA. We should not forget that she is our Manipur's iconic girl who made the world sit up and take notice of the draconian act. I even would boldly state that the world even failed in not offering her Nobel Peace Prize which was long overdue.

Dark spot in my relationship: After she was freed from the court and while she was still at JNIMS, around 3.30 evening of that fateful 9/8/2016, SP (IE) telephoned me and informed me that Sharmila wanted to stay temporarily in my house. Earlier she expressed her desire to stay in a HIV treated home near Koirengei. The police must have explored 2/3 places for her stay and probably did not materialise.

I requested the SP to tell Sharmila to communicate her decision at least to ShKL and other available women groups and bring a consensus. I further told the SP that there is anticipated law and order problem and hence the consensus was all the more important.

The SP assured me that he didn't anticipate such things and will communicate the same to his counterpart SP (IW). Swiftly O/C (IW) and his party arrived probably for security coverage. I again requested SP (IE) to help Sharmila to bring that consensus with the women's groups.

Meanwhile, I informed another Sharmila of our locality who is running a women's NGO (WVO) with the help of central fund, and requested to arrange Sharmila's stay in her NGO home. She readily agreed. We both decided to inform our local Meira Paibis.

Accordingly, she i.e. our local Sharmila, who is also secretary of our local Meira Paibis informed other women folk. They started gathering, other man-folks also joined. In view of the anticipated law and order problem and in view of difficulty in feeding her solid food, the locality decided quickly not to allow her stay.

Then Sharmila, with the police party, arrived suddenly. It was so swift and sudden. I didn't have time for forehand communication of the same to the police. She stayed in the ambulance for about 10 minutes. After opening the tight window glass of the ambulance, I communicated the decision and informed my regret to her.

What was heartening was that she accepted it with grace. Later on, I learned that she was taken to Shamu Makhong, where some trouble was also seen. Finally she was again taken to her old security ward at JNIMS.

I knew that my fatherly and sincere association with her for her well-being will always be shadowed by this one dark spot. I readily accept that. I will always regret this one throughout my life. The happiest moment was, however- when I expressed my regret to her in the ambulance and when she readily accepted the same.

I met her again on 10th and 12th August. Many staff nurses and others are witness to it. There I consoled her and repeated my advice to rethink about her plan of marriage and election. I repeated my strong objection of her entering political arena. Regarding marriage, I wanted it to postpone, which is also majority view of the society.

She told me that she is not mentioning marriage now. This is a good sign. She told me that some NGOs and individuals from Ukhrul had offered her a shelter home. She had decided to stay at the NGO and will be going on 23rd after her final court appearance. Earlier, Manipur Red Cross branch offered her a conditional shelter which she refused. v When I asked her about her books which she wanted to keep at my residence previously, she replied that she will be taking those with her. I took final photograph of her room with all the staff present. I will preserve it for posterity. Valley's loss is going to be Hill's gain. I hope politics is not involved in it. I expect our Ukrul brethren will nurse her as their own daughter. Let it bring more unity among hill and valley as she wished.

Conclusion: Give Sharmila a breathing space. 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. For me, I will continue to hunt a proper place for her to live in.

Concluded....