Eleventh Article in the article series - The Iron Lady

As a recent move of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC), a nationwide protest against the neglect and suppression of Irom Sharmila, is observing 12 Article series to reflect 12 years of suppression of Irom Sharmila's fast.

In this series one article per day will be published on its website and will be dedicated to one year fast of Irom.

This will conclude on 5th November, the day when Irom Sharmila will be unfortunately completing her 12 years of stuggle. 

Here's the eleventh article:

The Iron Lady

By Julius Tongbram

Truth is the first casualty of war. No exception. What happens out in the land of the Kangleicha’s now is a shameful history of anger, lies and empty promises.

Who is to be blamed? That is the question everyone ponders upon. Only a handful seems to be bothered to ask what lies ahead. Only a handful seems to care enough to look around for a solution. There are many to be blamed. It ranges from each one of us all the way to the so-called elected bodies who are supposed to represent “The People”.

This time every year, we vent our anger and disappointment in manners that is of no help to the cause. Those few who try and put it into action are hopelessly helpless and out of options. In the land of Kangleicha’s, home to warriors who fought for their land countless times against foreign hands, lingers a woman fighting relentlessly for twelve years. Here we are, talking and writing about her. Here we are, sitting cosily in our homes and writing a few lines to sing praises of her.

Sadly, that is all that we can do. Why? Because we aren’t made of what she is made of. There she lies on a hospital bed fighting for us. Silent. Resolved. Patient. Faithful. If she falls, blames fall in our hands. There will probably be a pandemonium for the next few days. Things could change with that surge of anger and force.

There would be one question that would come to my mind then. Why have we been silent for so long while she fights a long and lonely battle for all of us?

There are many ifs and buts that will come into place to discuss the situation in hand. However, few seem to consider humanity and compassion as a matter of concern. One cannot describe the magnitude of the indifference and disregard that has been meted out by each one of us towards her plight. It is only left to time now.

I can’t say or do anything differently to put this dilemma to an end. Unfortunately, the fate of Kangleicha’s future is tied to her now whether one wants to accept it or not. What saddens me the most is that there is very little hope to end this anytime soon and work towards a brighter future for those who are affected by this plague of fear, uncertainty and indecision.

They say, miracles do happen at the most unexpected of times. We, Kangleicha’s could use one now.

Julius Tongbram is a MBA student from Bangalore. He is the Guwahati co-ordinator for Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign. He can be mailed at j.tongbram@yahoo.com

Also published at http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=features.Profile_of_Manipuri_Personalities.Irom_Sharmila.The_Irom_Lady

http://www.countercurrents.org/tongbram041112.htm

Srinagar to Imphal Jan Karawan reached Delhi 19 OCTOBER 2011

Departure from Panipat at 7:00 AM 19 October

Arrival at New Delhi on 19 October 2011 10:00 AM

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 19 OCT 2011

Delhi

Srinagar to Imphal Jan Karawan reached Delhi yesterday as part of their 4500 Km journey to spread awareness about Irom Sharmila and her hunger strike. The Karwan is organized by Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign which is a joint initiative of various social organizations and movements who are extending their solidarity towards the cause.

The group led by social activists Faisal Khan reached Delhi University, Art faculty where they were welcomed by an another similar organization ‘Save Democracy, Repeal AFSPA’, and a public meeting was organized by Save Democracy Repeal AFSPA which was attended by around 100 youngters from the University. Seram Rojesh, member of Repeal AFSPA spoke about how important it is to have groups like these to come together and fight for peace and justice. More than this being a fight for Irom Sharmila or repealing AFSPA, it is a fight to save the democracy of this country.

“This is for the first time when such a journey is being organized by civilians to protect democratic values and Gandhian values. Never has it happened that to fight for a woman far in north east, so many people from different parts of states have come together. Irom has become a symbol of peace and humanity which is a language spoken by everybody regardless of what religion and language one belongs to.” Said Faisal Khan.  

Mr. Khan told that this Jan Karwan was being organised to spread awareness about Irom Sharmila and to generate public support for her. Mr. Khan told that our main objective is to make public opinion about sufferings of people who are affected by AFSPA.

Joining the Karawan is also Mr. Irom Singhjeet ji, brother of Irom Sharmila who was been equally fighting for her since she took up the fast. He said that this time he wishes that through the voices of the common man, Sharmila’s voice will be heard and hopefully justice will be done to her.

While Sharmila supporters were peacefully conducting their meeting and marching, a group of right wing extremists from ABVP marched in violently and disrupted the protest.  They claimed that such remarks were ‘anti-indian’ and that the SSC was sponsored by ISI, a Pakistan based militant group.

"We were taking out a caravan when some people came shouting slogans. They asked us to stop, and when we refused, they manhandled us and splashed black ink on our clothes,” said a karawan member.

As the situation worsened, Police called for vans to make arrest but instead of arresting the attackers, peaceful protesters and DU students were detained. All the detained students, six of them girls, were released at 6.30 pm.

After the issue was some how settled at DU, a group of yatris went to IIT Delhi to speak to the students about the issue. ‘Most of them are young students who will become the future of this country. They will work in big companies and earn a lot of money, but they also need to know the ground realities of this country.’ Said Suresh, a Gandhian and Karawan member.  He added that this struggle is not for a specific region or specific act, instead it is a struggle to protect the values.

The group then further went to JNU where they addressed the issue amongst students. A panel discussion was organized to discuss about the draconian law AFSPA. Also the yatris got a chance to share their experience of the travel. ‘people from panipat, Haryana, Gujarat are coming forward for this cause. It is not the people or the state that matters, it is the empathy and pain human feels for each other. We are here just to show our solidarity towards all who are victims and who are facing the scenario of human rights violation.’ mentioned Balwant Yadav are also travelling through all routes of yatra.

Total 10 states will be covered by this karwan and around 4500 km distance will be covered. The karawan will reach Imphal on 27^th October and meet Irom Sharmila.

Departure from New Delhi at 7:00 AM 20 October

Irom Sharmila supporter denied from entering Rajghat Delhi 25th june 2011

Irom Sharmila supporter denied from entering Rajghat Delhi

Candle Light solidarity prayer at Raj Ghat, New DelhiCandle Light solidarity prayer at Raj Ghat, New Delhi

A women Irom Chanu Sharmila been her hunger strike on 2^nd November 2000  demanding an end to an Indian military law, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) to establish a secure and peaceful administration which can respect human values, humanism and human rights who is on long fast and adopted Gandhian way of non violent protest. Despite of the commitment to human rights she is still ignored by the government and civil society.

 Save Sharmila Campaign formed in Initiative of several civil societies’ organization organized a candle light vigil at Raj Ghat today around 6.00pm in solidarity to Irom Sharmila. Introductory speech was given by Faisal Khan (National Alliance of People’s Movement), Veena Behen (Gandhi Global Family),Smt.  Nirmala Sharma  (Jagruthi Mahila Samithi), Prof VK Tripathi (Sadbhavna Mission), MD Tanveer (Asian Center for Social Studies) from Chennai , Sandeep Mishra (Mission Bharathiyam), Biju Behen (Asha Parivar –Assam), Syed Ali AKthar (Yuva Koshish) and Daiyan Husssain (Khadayi Kidmatkar- North East) delivered speech respectively in solidarity to Irom Sharmila.

Later on Akku Chingangbam a research scholar from JMI sang a song on Irom Sharmila. Activst of Qamar Intakhab, Rojesh a student leader of Manipur, Comrade M H Gandhi a well know activist from Gujarat, Shah Alam a documentary film maker, Samar Arya a student leader from JNU, Satyam (Rahul Foundation), Moulana Fateh Md Naqvi a well known religious scholar, many students from various universities (JNU, JMI, Jamia Hamdard & DU) and many activists and individuals participated in the vigil.

The main purpose of the vigil was to demand the government to hear Irom Sharmila, making an imitative by sending an all party delegates, NHRC and NWC to talk. The government has made many attempts of talks with Naxal, Mao and terrorist organization so why can’t it hear what a women from North East is demanding