Iron Irom Two Journeys

Who is Irom Chanu Sharmila? Is she a human rights activist? Is she a political prisoner? Is she a prolific poet? Is she a symbol of hope for the people of Manipur?
Incarcerated like a petty criminal in a jail ward in a Manipur hospital, isolated by the State through a posse of policemen at her door, she is all this and much more. Despite coverage in the media, numerous awareness campaigns and valiant efforts by supporters and activists, most people still know her only as 'the lady with a tube in her nose'. Since the year 2000, Irom Sharmila has remained steadfast in her determination to not eat or drink anything. She cleans her teeth with dry cotton and her lips with spirit so as not to sully her fast. Her body is wasted inside. Her menstrual cycles have stopped. Yet she is resolute. What is the reason behind her extraordinary decision? She single-handedly spearheads the movement against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, or AFSPA, in force in the seven northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir. She continues her hunger strike year after long and lonely year, using her body as her weapon and the traditional satyagraha form as her method of protest. What makes her protest unusual is that, rather than being and intellectual construct, it is a deep human response to the death and violence around her. What lies ahead for Sharmila and her non-violent struggle? How many years will it take for the authorities to take note of her silent protest? No one has the answers, not even Sharmila.
While her achingly poignant poem Birth provides a glimpse into the mind of a remarkable women, the hard-hitting report Where the Abnormal is Normal by Minnie Vaid reveals the extent of public fear and damage caused by the Indian government's unrelenting stance on AFSPA.