Irom Sharmila and Her 5,757 Days of Struggle

A short chronicle of Irom Sharmila’s long struggle.

(Photo: The Associated Press)

A brief timeline of Irom Sharmila Chanu, who ended her 16-year long fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) on Tuesday.

2 November, 2000

The controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives troops the right to arrest and shoot at suspected rebels. (Photo: Reuters)

Assam Rifles personnel gun down 10 people, including a teenage student who was a 1988 Bravery Award winner, at Malom near Imphal.

4 November, 2000

Sharmila, then 28, begins her indefinite fast in protest against the killings, demands withdrawal of AFSPA that gives sweeping powers to armed forces.

8 November, 2000

Irom Sharmila upon arriving at a court in Imphal. (Photo: The Associated Press)

Sharmila arrested by police on charges of attempt to commit suicide under Section 309 of IPC. She has since been released and arrested several times as the maximum punishment under this Section is one year imprisonment.

Technically, she in the custody of Imphal’s Sajiwa Central Jail but kept at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, where a team of doctors, nurses and policewomen ensure she gets her injections of nutrients through the nasal tube.

2 October, 2006

Sharmila goes to Raj Ghat, New Delhi, to pay floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Goes to Jantar Mantar for a protest demonstration where she is joined by human rights activists, students and others.

6 October, 2006

Sharmila with the police officials. (Photo: The Associated Press)

She is re-arrested by the Delhi Police for attempting suicide and taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Sharmila writes to the Prime Minister, the President, and the Home Minister.

24 February, 2010

Sharmila gets the Mayilamma Award for the year 2009. Mayilamma Foundation secretary M.N. Giri and great grandson-in-law of Mahatma Gandhi, Yogendra S. Parikh, present the award to Sharmila at her hospital ward.

March 2011

Desmond Coutinho, 48, a British citizen of Indian origin, meets Sharmila in hospital. Sharmila and Coutinho had been exchanging letters since 2009. Sharmila says he loves her.

October 2011

All India Trinamool Congress’ Manipur unit announces support to Sharmila and calls on party chief Mamata Banerjee to help repeal the AFSPA.

26 July, 2016

Irom Sharmila talks to the press. (Photo: The Associated Press)

Sharmila announces she would end her fast, join electoral politics and get married.

9 August, 2016

An emotional Sharmila breaks her fast. (Photo: The Associated Press)

Sharmila ends her 16-year-long hunger strike, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Quit India movement.