An ode to Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila

Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore who shares her name with Irom Chanu Sharmila considers as "extremely moving" the saga of the Manipuri activist, who has not eaten a single meal over the past 12 odd years to protest the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
The actress was participating in a panel discussion on the book "Iron Irom: Two Journeys" written by Minnie Vaid and containing a long poem by Irom Sharmila at the Akshara Theatre here late last evening.
"Her saga is extremely moving. She is the face of the process which is adopted by her. Her way of protest is important as it is non- violent...I am ashamed that I came to know about her five years ago. We need to inform the people about her struggle and the cause she is standing for," said Sharmila Tagore.

The actresses considered the activist as a "hugely spiritual and exceptional person."
The panel discussion coincided with the completion of 55 years AFPSA, after it was imposed on May 22, 1958. Irom Sharmila, began a total hunger strike, without food or water since November 4, 2004 against the AFSPA and authorities have been force feeding her a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, laxatives, protein supplements and lentil soup through the nose with a rubber pipe.
Author and documentary filmmaker Minnie Vaid said she had written the book to generate awareness about the activist's struggle.

"The media is least bothered in the struggle of Irom Sharmila and 'Iron Irom' is a book which I have written for those people who don't know Irom Sharmila," Minnie Vaid told PTI.

In Manipur women have been at the forefront of many social movements, from the first Nupi Lal launched in 1904 which forced the British to stop using forced labour.
The Meira Pabis and the Nupi Marup or the Women Association are quite active in Manipur fighting for any injustice meted out to women. Minne said she would like to write a book on these women "who stay as a torch bearers to the struggle of Irom Sharmila."
"There are women who act as the torch bearers who are fasting with Irom Sharmila from 2008 onwards. They eat only once a day," said Minnie.

After a long wait to get access to Sharmila, the author met her in jail and after meeting she concluded that the activist was "as an amazing woman I had ever seen and am much impressed with her courage and determination to attain the goal.