In the wake of the recently famous anti-corruption activities and use of the Fast by Anna Hazare, many in the world are still unaware of Irom Sharmila Chenu of Manipur, often called the Iron Lady by the media for her singular perseverance. Since 2000, Irom Sharmila has been on an indefinite Fast in Manipur. Her use of the Fast began shortly after a brutal massacre of innocent citizens by the armed forces in control of Manipur. Irom took this drastic step with the blessings of her Mother, in response to her conscience and as a petition and prayer, to see the senseless violence in her country stopped, and the laws that allow it to continue, changed. For over 11 years now, she has been arrested, force fed, re-arrested, as an attempted suicide case by the government.
The author, Jill Carr Harris (president of South-South Solidarity in New Delhi, India) has been working along side her husband, P.V. Rajogopal for the last two decades, seeking to gain land for the landless in India, and other basic rights for people. Currently, Jill and P.V. Rajogopal are involved in the Anna Hazare Campaign in India, and preparing for an international conference in Geneva. Simultaneously, she is finishing her M.A. in Canada on non-violent social movements.