After 16 Years, Irom Sharmila Breaks Her Fast: What Lies Ahead?

Anubha Bhosle, author of ‘Mother, Where’s My Country?’, speaks to us about Irom Sharmila’s decision to end her fast.

Flesh, blood, sinew, muscle; Irom Sharmila is all of this, and more. (Photos: ANI)

(As Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’ Irom Sharmila breaks her 16-year long fast, The Quint speaks to senior journalist and author of ‘Mother, Where’s My Country?’, Anubha Bhonsle.

In the last 16 years, Bhonsle has followed Sharmila’s long struggle against the AFSPA and formed a close association with her.)

What do you think was the immediate trigger for Irom Sharmila to decide to end her fast?

Irom Sharmila has been talking about the lack of solidarity, and in a manner about the ineffectiveness of her fast for the last four odd years.

At many press statements after her court appearances, she has asked people to mobilise and rally around the cause of the repeal of AFSPA. That has not happened. Her decision, a surprising one, has possibly been on her mind for some time now. I learn from those who take care of her that she has mentioned this on occasions.

Also Read: How Irom Sharmila Changed the Narrative of AFSPA in Manipur

Irom has said she will join politics. What do you reckon she plans to do? If she fights as an Independent, what chance does she have of exerting any political pressure against AFSPA?

From what I understand at this stage, she wants to enter politics and fight the Assembly elections as an Independent candidate. Both the BJP and the Congress in the state have been muted in their response to her decision. I doubt that either party would offer her a ticket.

Sharmila may also find this next battle an even more of an uphill one. A political fight, purely on an anti-AFSPA stance, may win her an election.

Irom Sharmila. (Photo: The Quint/Sunzu Bachaspatimayum)

Can Irom actually fight for the repeal of AFSPA in the political space?

Also Read: Would Delhi Dither on AFSPA If it Had Been in Force in UP, Bihar?

The decision to repeal AFSPA is a political one and incumbent on many stakeholders, including the states and the Centre.

An election campaign based on an anti-AFSPA plank may have limited electoral value. And is certainly not enough if the goal is to repeal AFSPA. Unlike Nagaland, the Manipur Assembly has never even passed a resolution asking for the repeal of AFSPA.

Irom Sharmila’s mother and brother. (Photo: The Quint)

You have emphasised that most of us, even the media, see Irom mainly through the prism of AFSPA and Manipuri politics. But could it be that Irom’s reasons for ending her fast may be more ‘personal’ than ‘political’?

I believe there is a strong ‘personal’ element to the decision-making. But the reasons for the decision have been long-standing – the lack of focus of the campaign. She could see how the campaign hinged almost entirely on her and her force-feeding.

There was a great lack of mobilisation, media attention, and advocacy. Access to her was limited and patchy. And the entry of her personal life into the matrix made many people uncomfortable.

How important in Irom’s life today are aspects like personal happiness, possible marriage, leading a normal life? Would it be possible for her to do both, fight AFSPA and lead a normal married life?

I think there is no dichotomy in her mind about the co-existence of the two. She has over the years laid great emphasis on happiness, life and a zest for life. She sees her marriage and a life without a tube as an extension of her protest against AFSPA.

Do you think Irom’s ‘mystery fiancé’ may have had a lot to do with her decision to call off her fast?

I think Desmond Coutinho has been a presence in her life that may have helped her make the decision. This looks like primarily her decision. His letters have been a constant presence in her life. There have been occasions his presence in Imphal has angered the local people tremendously.

By most accounts Desmond is considered an outsider, a “plant of the Indian intelligence agencies to undermine the protest and the fast.” There is no denying that he has remained the one constant source of engagement, empathy, compassion and possibly ‘normalcy’ in her life.

Also Read: The Rhetoric, Reality, Needs and Concerns Around AFSPA

Ultimately, how would you evaluate Sharmila’s 16-year ordeal? A superhuman effort for sure, but it did not succeed in having AFSPA repealed. What would you say?

Compared to street protests, hunger strikes are boring. And when they happen in some parts of our country, they are also invisible.

Sharmila is a strong-willed, independent woman who has been pragmatic to make a decision of this nature. It has been by no means an easy one. To my mind the fact that the State chose not to engage with a 16-year-old non-violent protest in any coherent fashion is a tragic reality.

Writing letters to Desmond are a few of Irom Sharmila’s everyday pleasures. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Irom Sharmila)

Is the Irom story over? Or is there a surprising twist coming? What do you see her doing a year from now?

Life outside the confines of the JLN hospital in Imphal is going to be tough and a big adjustment for Irom Sharmila. If she does call off her fast on 9 August, as she has said, I doubt she will ever go back to this form of protest again.

Beyond that it would be tough for me to guess what her life would be. She has always been full of surprises. But for now the campaign lacks a focus and that is causing a lot of anxiety.

Shortly after Anubha Bhonsle’s book ‘Mother, Where’s My Country?’ was released earlier in 2016, The Quint caught up with her about Sharmila, her 16 years of struggle, and her love in the times of AFSPA.

Watch excerpts from the interview below.