After her disastrous debut in politics, Irom Sharmila, activist, will arrive in the tribal region of Attappady in Kerala on Tuesday in search of “peace, tranquillity and solitude”.
Ms. Sharmila will reach Agali in Attappady from the Coimbatore airport to spend a couple of days with her close friend of over 11 years, Basheer Madala, a journalist-turned-activist.
After spending a couple of days with Mr. Madala and his family, she will move to a rehabilitation centre near the Vattalakki tribal hamlet. Ms. Sharmila is expected to spend a month at the centre, which is maintained by Uma Preman.
Call for privacy
“It all depends on the comfort level she would feel after reaching here. Though we tried our best to keep her visit a low-key affair, in view of her preference for solitude, the information was leaked and created a huge public response not just in Attappady but across Kerala,” Sabira, Mr. Madala’s wife, said.
In the Manipur Assembly election, the “Iron Lady”, who won international attention for her years-long hunger strike seeking the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the north-eastern State, was able to secure hardly 90 votes against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in the Thoubal constituency. The 44-year-old activist has since announced quitting politics.
“The news that she was able to secure only 90 votes, even fewer than the number for NOTA, has evoked strong sympathetic responses from Keralites, especially those active on social media. We are undertaking a difficult task of ensuring her privacy and solitude in a State where she has more fans than in her home State,” Ms. Preman said.
A long trip
It was as an office-bearer of a journalists’ union that Mr. Madala first travelled to Manipur 11 years ago and met Ms. Sharmila.
“It is her first major long journey outside Manipur, except for the Delhi trips as part of the hunger strike. I felt honoured when she accepted our invitation to be here in Attappady for one month to ponder her future course of action,” he said.
“Keralites are aware of her 16-year-old fast for the repeal of the AFSPA. So we hope people would cooperate by not creating discomfort to her by attempting to meet her here,” he said.
