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.
To date, the government of India has ignored her efforts, even though her situation has been brought to the attention of the Lok Sabha more than once, and blazed throughout the press in 2007 when Nobel Laureate, Iranian attorney, and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi blasted governmental apathy towards Sharmila.
In order to bring awareness of India's gentle and determined sister, several concerned citizen groups in India banded together and formed the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign. Their demands to the government of India are simple:
- To listen to the voice of nonviolent protest, and
- To begin positive steps of talk with Irom Sharmila,
- To send an all party delegation to meet her,
- To send members of NWC (National Women's Commission),NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) to meet with her, and
- To send a special team of doctors from New Delhi to examine Irom Sharmila's health.
The Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign began a ``Srinagar to Imphal'' (Kashmir to Manipur) Caravan, SrinagarImphal Save Sharmila Jan Karwan, on October 16th, 2011. Before departing for Srinagar, Kashmir, a member of the team picked up copies of Earth Ethics and Pranaam to take to Irom Sharmila, as a gift of love and encouragement from Wise Earth Publishers, via our distributors in Delhi, Mr. Bhutani at Bibliophile South Asia.
The Srinagar Imphal Save Sharmila Jan Karwan traveled 4500 km in 12 days, a blitz-krieg of awareness raising that reached Imphal on October 27th, 2011. They stopped at over 15 cities, holding talks, seminars, press-releases, doing all they could to raise public awareness and provide information about the situation that Irom Sharmila is in. In Imphal, the Karvan was met by hundreds of activists and people of Manipur. Irom Sharmila holds a high place in every Manipuri's heart.
In communications with the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, author P.K. Willey wrote:
What is happening to Irom Sharmilla does not concern just her, or Manipur, or India alone. It concerns all the people's of the world...especially women, who have no arms, but love, to try to reform brutal mentalities. The Indian government should know that the people's of the world, who have such hope and faith that the Indian Government will represent the people's of the Earth, and their simple, peaceful aspirations, over greed and brutality, are watching closely... with the greatest of concern as to how Irom Sharmilla's voice is being neglected and denied.
The leadership of the Srinagar Imphal Save Sharmila Jan Karwan, sent Wise Earth Publishers the following message regarding the books:
Srinagar Imphal Jan Karwan visited Imphal but govt. did not permit the karwan members to meet Irom and arrested all members of karwan during our protest against the denying of permission. We all were at Imphal till 29th October.
However we had many gifts from various people for Irom. But due to denying of permission, we could not meet with Irom. We just saw a glance of her,
However, we handed over the books (Earth Ethics & poetry) to Irom's brother and he (Irom Singhjit) promised us to handover the same to Irom when ever he will meet.
Situation is so hard there because permission process is very tough.
Photographs attached here. Irom Singhjit (Irom Sharmila's brother) in photo with books.
Scene from inside police station Porompat, Imphal East, where all of us were detained by Police."
The Srinager Imphal Save Sharmila Karwan also sent Wise Earth Publishers these two photographs of Irom Singhjit, Irom Sharmila's brother, receving the books. The photos were taken inside the police station at Porompat, Imphal east, where the activists were detained.
To join the Save Irom Sharmila Campaign, please see www.earthethics.org.in, for a short video of Irom Sharmila, and materials to begin a signature campaign in your area.
(Photographs courtesy of Srinagar Imphal Save Sharmila Jan Karvan.)
