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

Eigth Article in the Article series: Irom - An inspiration for students

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 eigth article:

Irom: An inspiration for students

By Zaheeb Ajmal

This article is dedicated to Irom by a group of students from Patna.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, the crusader against AFSPA, who has been on hunger strike since 4th November 2000, is still unknown to the major part of India. On 5th May 2011, the day when we got to know about the Iron Lady of Manipur through a play, “Le Mashale”, performed by Ojas SV, we were in deep shock. It was an eye opener of the unexplored land of India. We have never been told about the problems and the torture the people of Manipur face each and every day. The play was heart touching and moved us so much that it instigated us to gather more knowledge about it and this consequently resulted in us joining the fight of the Iron Lady.

We decided to campaign in and around Patna and let people know about the North east and its problems. We slowly and steadily came to know about the hardcore realities. The draconian law has been imposed in the northeast since 1958, but it is shameful that very few among us knew about her. The media which is termed as the “fourth pillar of the democracy” has been partial in the case of Manipur. We had rarely seen any news channel reporting or any print media reporting about the protest going on in Manipur every day. We were stopped and questioned by senior countrymen, why are we bothering about Manipur? Are we from Manipur?  We were advised to worry about our city and state problems. Some were worried and lost their enthusiasm but it was Irom’s struggle that refilled the enthusiasm. They came back with more passion and dedication. These kids are from those groups who generally “don’t care” about the society and its worries. They proved us wrong and work day and night for the campaign because they think that the fight we have joined has to be fought till end and they think that AFSPA should be diluted.

After watching the play, Le Mashale, these students formed a group, named “Le Mashale” and organized an event on 1st July 2011 to aware the people of their city about the atrocities faced by people of Manipur. The number of people who attended it was unbelievable. It drew attention of media, activists of Patna. When asked about how they managed it, they said it is Irom struggle which gave us inspiration. They added, Why has society became so insensitive, where you care about a person who in 12 day fast but not even pay any heed to a person who is on 12 year hunger strike. Why we discriminate our brothers and sister from Northeast .They also said that everyone should about her struggle and the government should listen to her. These students also joined the “SAVE SHARMILA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN”, which they coordinated in Bihar. At the last, Irom’s struggle has ignited a passion in our soul, we salute the lady and we are in support for her till the battle against AFSPA is won.

This article has been written by Zaheeb Ajmal on behalf of the students. He is the patna co-ordinator of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign. He is also a member of Samar and of the students’ group for Irom, Le Mashale. He can be mailed at zaheebajmal@gmail.com

Also published at http://www.countercurrents.org/ajmal011112.htm

http://e-pao.net/epSearchResults.asp?cx=partner-pub-3342616103029311%3A3788634109&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=zaheeb

Civil society groups to launch mass campaign for Irom Sharmila

Civil society groups to launch mass campaign for Irom Sharmila
- twocircles.net -

By TCN Staff Reporter, , New Delhi: | May 22

A joint campaign by a network of civil society organizations will be launched to aware the general public about the non-violent protest of Irom Sharmila. Sharmila is on hunger strike since 2000 in Manipur with her demand to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA). The decision for a joint campaign was taken in the meeting “Save Sharmila campaign” organized on 19th May in New Delhi.

It should be noted that the “draconian” law has always been criticized by the civil society organizations. Organizations campaigning for Sharmila include Gandhi Global Foundation, Jagriti Mahila Samiti, National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM), Asha Parivar, Khudai Khidmatgaar, Mission Bhartiyam, Yuva Koshish and Sadbhavna Mission.

Representatives from these organizations besides Human Rights Law Network and Mission Bhartiyam were present in the meeting. Civil society groups to launch mass campaign for Irom Sharmila
- twocircles.net -

In the meeting, Mr. Faisal Khan of NAPM said that very few among general public were aware about Sharmila's sacrifice to establish democracy and peace on real ground. Therefore as a concerned citizen and as a human being, “it is our responsibility to support her through public awareness and appeal through various ways.”

A candle light prayer will also be organized at Rajghat to support the gandhian way of protest by Irom Sharmila. Mr. Ravi Nitesh of Mission Bhartiyam proposed various other activities such as online campaign, signature campaign and peace march. “Srinagar to Imphal Yatra” will also be organized to “join the hearts and gather support for Irom Sharmila's protest,” Khan informed.

By TCN Staff Reporter, , New Delhi: | May 22

(http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.News_Links.News_Links_2011.Civil_society_groups_to_launch_mass_campaign_for_Irom_Sharmila_20110522)