By focusing on individuals like Irom Sharmila, the cause or reason for protest is often forgotten. In this particular case, the cause — repeal of the AFSPA — is crucial.
She appears in our line of vision, and then disappears. When we see her, we remember. When we don’t, we forget.
When Irom Sharmila, that frail woman from Manipur, with a feeding tube taped to her nose, was asked to travel to Delhi earlier this month, it was “news”. Her name was in the newspapers, her image on television channels. Yet, how many people really knew why she had been brought to Delhi, why after six years had a court summoned her to face charges under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code for attempting to commit suicide?
In 2006, Sharmila travelled to Delhi for the first time in her life. In fact, it was the first time she sat in an airplane. Then she had travelled to Delhi by choice. She did so because she reckoned, and rightly so, that her voice would only be heard if she went to Delhi. And she was not wrong. As she sat at Jantar Mantar, continuing a protest that began on November 2, 2000 demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur, the “national” media paid heed to her voice, and relayed it to a wider audience.
And how did the authorities respond? By charging her for attempting to commit suicide and force-feeding her. Eventually, Sharmila returned to her hospital jail in Imphal, where she is forcibly fed through that tube in her nose. She has remained in that room, a year at a time. A court in Imphal charges her under the same section of IPC, imprisons her for a year, the maximum sentence, releases her, and then arrests her again when she refuses to break her fast. Every year, around this time, this little drama is enacted. The local press takes note; the national press generally ignores it. And Sharmila continues to protest.
Now, in addition to the court in Imphal, Sharmila has to face the court in Delhi. When she appeared earlier this month, she told the judge: “I love and respect life. I want the right to live as a human being. Mine is a non-violent protest to get the government to meet my demands.” This does not sound like a woman who wants to kill herself. Yet, the law says she does, because she will not eat. And so this case will also continue. And once again, on May 22, she will be brought to Delhi. And we will have another chance to remember who she is, what she stands for, and what she is asking.
Sharmila’s story is extraordinary and bears retelling. Several books have already been written about her, the latest by journalist Minnie Vaid titled, Iron Irom, Two Journeys. It is a slim book that recounts Sharmila’s journey and Vaid’s own journey into Manipur, a place “where the abnormal is normal”, as she aptly puts it. But even as Sharmila’s trials, determination and amazing courage are remembered, and lauded, one should not lose sight of the central issue over which she is so agitated.
In India, we elevate individuals and forget the cause. We need heroes and heroines, more so at a time of visual media. But in fixing on individuals, the issue, the cause, the reason for protest sometimes gets forgotten, or under-played.
In the case of Sharmila’s fast, the issue is crucial. AFSPA has been in force since 1958. The army insists it is essential; for the civilian population it means the denial of basic rights and nurtures a culture of impunity in everyone with power.
If you go to Manipur, you will understand why Sharmila will not relent. They do not have the freedom we take for granted. Nor the basic infrastructure. Daily life is incredibly difficult. There are shortages of every kind — water, electricity, fuel, food, medicines. Not for a week, or a month, but for years. Those of us living in so-called “undisturbed” areas do not have a clue what life is like for the ordinary Manipuri, someone who wants to lead a normal life, a peaceful one, without bomb blasts or armed men patrolling the streets or curfews or extra-judicial killings in broad daylight.
Manipuris escape this hardship by running away to our big cities. Thousands of them have joined the service sector. Does anyone ask them about Manipur? Do people even know they are from Manipur? People like them, living on the periphery, are constantly lectured about “integrating” with India. It is India and Indians who need to “integrate” with the northeast and Manipur and not the other way round.
Eight years ago, in 2005, the Justice Jeevan Reddy committee, set up to review AFSPA in Manipur by an earlier version of the government at the Centre, submitted its report. It recommended that AFSPA be withdrawn. The government paid no heed.
More recently, the Justice Verma Committee, set up after the Delhi gang rape, strongly recommended that the provision in AFSPA that grants armed forces personnel immunity from facing rape charges in a civilian court, be removed. Once again, this escaped a hearing-impaired government.
What will it take for the deafness of the government, and its obduracy, to give way to a listening ear and an open mind on the issue? How many Sharmilas will it take? Should all of us who care, who feel outraged at this state of affairs, decide to become Sharmilas?
Email: sharma.kalpana@yahoo.com
Keywords: Irom Sharmila, AFSPA, women's rights
This article has a very specific point about Sharmila's fast and the
cause which made her adopt this Gandhian means of protest. Another
important point is the feeling of being outsiders which many people of
the North East experience. By turning a blind eye to her protest,
mainstream India is doing little to make that region feel included in
the national life. A larger and an inferred point is that the way we
treat the most underprivileged and marginalized of our citizens will
determine how inclusive and compassionate we are as individuals and as
society
@vineeth the problem within the system is any provision , law and
subsidy that is approved by GOI and so fragile that the people find the
loopholes quite easily. The country is more dependent on abuse of the
plans and decisions made that are made by our so called
intelligentsia.When some one points out at the abuse no one heeds to the
parched throats shouting for justice.
@Gaurav, And that gives the license to our military to rape and kill civilians at will without fear of prosecution? Using draconian laws like AFSPA we can win battles, but we ultimately loss the war. If the impression the people of AFSPA areas have of our Army is that of an oppressor, who gains? Laws like AFSPA has no place in a democracy.
The courage and consistency of Ms Irom Sharmila in her years of struggle against the
AFSPA is unique and awesome.While offering her my sincere respects and wishing her all
the best in her efforts,I could not help wondering her arguable decision to fight single
handedly a serious and inevitable decision taken by none less than the government of India
in the interests of the nation.Also it is obvious that the GOI could not see eye to eye with the
recommendations of prestigious Jeevan Reddy Committee and Verma Committee for
reasons overweening their conclusions.I am of opinion that a single individual should try to
set right the perceived flaws of a policy of the GOI through due process of law only and not
by adhering to available democratic means.Can an individual question the prudence or
wisdom of a government ?The GOI should lose no more time and try to convince Ms
Sharmila by suitable negotiations by engaging eminent people for the necessity of AFSPA
and at that time she should yield.
It is for the last 12 years, the strong willed lady Irom(n) Sharmila
is on an indfinite fast, of course, for a good cause to repeal AFSPA
in her state. This humble lady sacrificing and risking her life is
fighting for a cause for the people of her own state and not backed by
any self-centered politicians or politics. From the article, it is
understood that everyday life in Manipur is miserable and the
individuals can be booked for anything under AFSPA, thus snatching
away one's own freedom. The Centre has to come out openly its stand on
non withdrawal of AFSPA in Manipur. Is it that the situation in
Manipur is more worse than J&K ? Or does any threat to invasion or
infiltration by neighbouring countries to the state exists?It is quite
natural and justifiable demand that the controversial AFSPA be
repealed to lift the people of Manipur from its clutches.It is time
that the Centre comes out with an open mind on this and justify the
causes for its continuity rather than its withdrawal.
@Saleem Naduthodi - Thank you for the thoughtful comments.
@ all others who think the AFSPA is right - Why do we need soldiers in these 'disturbed' areas in the first place? These areas under AFSPA are populated by our fellow citizens, not enemies. If we do not make an effort to understand their grievances, we should let them secede from India. Please attempt to understand the provisions of the AFSPA before jingoistically crowing that our jawans and paramilitary forces need them.
Every time when we read such liberal views in the columns of big news papers like the Hindu we instantly become dogmatic and start supporting the cause by thinking that we are taking more humanitarian approach.This article has been ended with questions posed to the readers.I want to just expand the horizon of questions being put.Will a soldier love to stand on such a heap of RDX by his own choice?How should he confront when being attacked by AK 47's?If the camps of the soldiers are attacked without any hesitation Does anybody over here think that the roads will be safe for civilians? Only few days ago a CRPF camp was attacked and soldiers got killed?And again their are liberal views once again?It is really pathetic to see these comments piled up here to repeal AFSPA.I think they are the same liberals who confronted the hangings of Afzal and Kasab?Grow up editor sir let us be a little less liberal when we are talking about martyrs and sacrifices.
Courage and endurance are symbolized in one name, one true human
being. Who says she doesn't respect life then please tell me what she
is fighting for. Obviously not for her own life but dignified life for
thousands. It is true we always recalls heroes and heroines but forget
to recall the causes/reasons which have made them a warrior.
The Iron Sharmila is a warrior and her war is against immoral humans
for Humanity. Let not just recall her name we should look on the cause
which she is fighting 'a Brutal inhuman law AFSPA. If government is
deaf then where are the citizens, the Indians why not we see this. If
one voice is feeble then gather millions and roar.
I salute this Lady and always support her fight for humanity.
I support the Justice Verma Committee recommendation...
There is no words to express the courage Madam Irom Sharmila is demonstrating.
The whole country and the National leaders should treat Ms. Sharmila will due respect and definately reconsider the law which is against humanity. No one in this world has the right to kill anyone until the crime is proved.
Dear Countrymen, let us join to support Ms. Sharmila. She has to the right to live a normal healthy life.
Repeal AFSPA from all part of the country. It is the pure violation of
the Fundamental Rights act of the constitution. Govt. should be sacked
as it has violated the Act. Every citizen of the country has their
rights to live as they want. AFSPA is enjoying personnel immunity that
protects army personnel from rape charges. Democracy had been bashed on
the day when AFSPA was created for the Human Beings but served no
purpose. My appeal to Govt. is to listen even though hearing impaired
ear listen to them and repeal the AFSPA. Only way to get ahead of time
and impinging of Democracy on people.
When the grievances of the people of a region or society is raised seeking resolution, by an individual or group, the the authority to address the issue must be identified with no lapse. Administrative action must be in place from its very origin with responsibility and accountability. It is the way of administration even under monarchies. When political leadership is insensitive and incapable, media is ineffective, judiciary is impotent to intervene, then the role is for the people to take over.Irom Sharmila shall not be treated as an ancient heroine of a legendary tale. Instead, She is a fellow citizen of entire Indians- very close to us living in our own time and space. It is a message from the people, categorically constituted, naturally evolved, in the Delhi style due at the moment.
The real question is- should AFSPA be repealed because
conditions have been improved much since it was put in force OR just
because Irom is on fast ?
Thanks Kalpana for writing on Irom's struggle. We, the readers, take it as a contribution from you for the cause. It will not go waste.
Repeal AFSPA
Thanks to The Hindu for publishing this article on Irom Sharmila - the
unsung hero - I feel, media should bring out details on the difficulties
faced by the civilians due to the AFSPA - This way, more public support
will be there and it will have more pressure on the Government.
repeal AFSPA!
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