WHO's AFRAID OF IROM SHARMILA?
SISTER WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO EAT?
She fights with her life
for repeal of an unjust
law, raping democracy
in her homeland….
a hunger strike spanning
a decade sends chills down
the spines of those who run
Indian state….
she stares down the might
of a powerful state, renders
it impotent almost, its
bureaucracy, armed forces
virtually helpless against
raw courage, determination,
sense of righteousness of a
lone woman; her iron resolve
its prisons, force-feedings,
unable to subdue, like
Aung San Suu Kyi, she
remains a prisoner of
conscience against state
repression. Did I say
state repression? Hey,
wait! This is not Burma,
is it? There are no dictators
here! This is India! World’s
largest democracy! Yet, the
state represses? But why?
Really, who’s afraid of
Irom Sharmila? Why
this desperation to stifle
her protest?
I was taught that all
Indians are my brothers
and sisters! Then why is
my sister refusing to eat?
What burned an anguish
so deep in her heart?
Refusing food for a
whole decade!
What filled her soul
with a terrible resolve?
Why are we deaf to
Manipur’s agony?
Is she being obstinate?
Asking too much? To
withdraw the license to
kill with impunity……
The Armed Forces Special
Powers Act! A democracy
needs this to fight our own?
Shame on us!
A democracy or a demon
crazy? Remember Irom
Sharmila is not alone. If
Manipur wails India bleeds!
Arrogance crumbles mighty
empires! Won't we wake up
before it’s too late and ask
her why she refuses to eat?
---------------------------------------
31/03/10 R Jayachandran
*39 year old, IROM SHARMILA CHANU has been on a
fast unto death since November 4th, 2000, demanding
the withdrawal of AFSPA, the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act, 1958 from Manipur and neighboring
states of the northeast. She was arrested on November 6th,
2000. Since then a ritual of release and rearrest has been
continuing as she insists on continuing her fast till her
demands are met.
Fragrance of Peace
(A poem by Irom Sharmila)
When life comes to its end
You, please transport
My lifeless body
Place it on the soil of Father Koubru
To reduce my dead body
To cinders amidst the flames
Chopping it with axe and spade
Fills my mind with revulsion
The outer cover is sure to dry out
Let it rot under the ground
Let it be of some use to future generations
Let it transform into ore in the mine
I'll spread the fragrance of peace
From Kanglei, my birthplace
In the ages to come
It will spread all over the world.
-lrom Sharmila
