Irom Sharmila is a living martyr and the image of Manipur’s crusade against AFSPA – but only as long as she starved for 16 agonising years.
The moment Irom Sharmila broke her fast, she was branded a self-serving traitor to the anti-AFSPA cause. Her own family and former friends have shut their doors on her.
But what is Irom Sharmila guilty of doing?
Her detractors say she broke her fast without asking them.
Yes, she did but did Irom ask them for permission when she began her fast? Why does she need to ask anyone to end it?
The mothers of Manipur say that Irom no longer gets to decide how to fight AFSPA. They say that her call to stop fasting, get fit, get into politics, become Chief Minister, repeal AFSPA and maybe even get married are not her calls to make.
Really? After fasting for 16 years, Irom Sharmila needs to check with you?
They also say they have fought AFSPA longer than her which is true. But for 16 years, she was the mascot of their struggle. In fact, she was all they had. Sure, the mothers of Manipur staged a naked protest, but what after that? And truth be told that’s their real problem isn’t it? No Irom on fast means no anti-AFSPA struggle!
And finally, they say that one Irom can’t fight AFSPA alone. Which is exactly our point! One Irom Sharmila cannot get AFSPA repealed, but together, they can. But first, respect her decision.
Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
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