Irom Chanu Sharmila - Her story

* HRI Manipur

Ms Irom Chanu Sharmila has been on hunger strike since 2 Novemeber 2000 unto death demanding an end to an Indian military law, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA). She has been survived by forced nasal feeding and being kept in the security ward of JN Hospital under custody of Sajiwa Central Jail in charge of attempting suicide.

Her-story

That was an evening of windy March that stormed so violently as if it tried to shatter the mother earth when the baby girl of future non-violent stepped on her. Irom Chanu Sharmila was born to Mr. Irom Nanda and Mrs. Irom Sakhi, the youngest issue of the nine on 14 March 1972 at Kongpal Kongkham Leikai, Porompat, Imphal.

She has been a girl of few words and self confidence since her childhood. Sharmila grew up as an animal lover, cool and collecting, and deep thinker avoiding most of the fun fare and using of cosmetic make up. Always riding away her bicycle, she used to participate many a social events.

Her mother Sakhi said in a TV interview that she could not feed baby Sharmila because she did not produce enough breast milk; the other mothers from the locality nourished her with their milk. That might be the reason that Sharmila is becoming a daughter of mother Manipur.

Sharmila studied up to 10+2 though, in fact, she had a desire of higher education and a strong curiosity of knowing at good extent. While she was still a young girl, she lost her father in 1980 and unfortunately in years later in 1997 her eldest brother also passed away.

The loss and consequent lack of parental guidance did not deter her from following the path that she held so close to herself. Her philosophy and originality becomes clearer and her decision stands firm better as years advance. Everyday media report of killings, tortures and other incidents of gross human rights violations caused Sharmila pent up but she felt completely helpless to demonstrate what she wanted to.

One day somewhere in October 2000, a few days prior to her hunger strike, this sensitive young lady volunteered her service to the Justice Suresh's People Tribunal; she heard the testimony of a victim who was raped by Indian Army in front of her father- in-law.

Thus, suddenly the snowball in her heart was burst out when Assam Rifles (an Indian armed force) killed ten innocent peopole at Malom nearby Tulihal Airport on 2 November 2000. Sharmila could not remain as a silent spectator any longer. She came to the spot on her bicycle to witness the gruesome scene. She vowed to challenge the inhuman action of Government Military. Then the 28 years old Sharmila started her hunger strike unto death demanding the end of the AFSPA under which rampant rights violation occur.

Her brother Irom Singjit remembered, 'the killing was on 2 November 2000 that was a Thursday; she usually did not eat anything on the days, she observed fasting on every Thursday since her childhood. The same fast continues till date though it was declared on 4 November officially.'

Soon after she sat on hunger strike, the police arrested her on 5 November on the charge of attempted suicide. Since then she has been kept in the security ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Imphal under judicial custody of Sajiwa Central Jail imposing forced feeding with a pipe through her nose. Every year somewhere in either November or August/September she is released only to be rearrested soon after.

Ever since Sharmila started hunger strike, various important personalities of peace, rights and NGO activists, civil society leaders, artistes, writers etc. came and met the defiant lady to show support and solidarity to her cause. Chief Minister and Governor of Manipur met Sharmila two or three times requesting her to stop the hunger strike while she squarely refuses their words saying, "Unless and until the AFSPA is repealed, I shall never stop my fasting."

Enforced nasal feeding with semi liquid substances inserting a pipe through her nose is the government daily routine to keep Sharmila alive. Time and again she plucks out the pipe refusing the feeding. "I am completely helpless in their captivity, they control me and make destitute this way for years," Sharmila said.

She spends years after years in the judicial custody mainly by reading and writing. She writes poems, other philosophical notes and reads books about the travelogue, Nelson Mandela, Che Guevara, Japanese Folk Tale, etc. After about four years of her hunger strike menstruation stopped. She is weak; her bones are becoming brittle and now under weight. Her health condition has been worsened over years.

Malom Incident

That was the afternoon of 2 November 2000, at around 3:20 pm Government Military Forces (Assam Rifles) mowed down ten innocent civilians including a winner of presidential award for child bravery at Malom Makha Leikai, Boroi Makhong, near Tulihal Airport claiming there was a bomb blast attacking on them. Hundreds of civilians were injured due to torture and gun fire.

Casualties were not allowed to medical access; none were allowed to move out of their houses. Malom was turned into complete a ghost environment; the capital Imphal town and entire Manipur was appeared deserted due to imposition of curfew.

Victims of Malom incident

Mrs. Leisangbam Ongbi Ibetombi, 62
Mr. Gurumayum Bapu Sharma, 57
Mr. Oinam Sanatomba Singh, 50
Mr, Kangujam Nouba, 35
Mr. Amakcham Raghumani, 34
Mr, Soibam Prakash, 25
Mr. Kshetrimayum Inaocha, 20
Mr. Tokpam Shantikumar, 19
Mr. Sinam Robin, 28
Mr. Sinam Chandramani, 18