Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the Struggle for Peace in Manipur

by MEHROTRA, Deepti Priya

Irom Sharmila has been on a fast unto death for eight years, demanding a repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur. This act has led to numerous atrocities. Sharmila has been arrested and force fed through feeding tubes be her own government. This is a moving portrait of the 'Iron Lady of Manipur."

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2009

Reviews

[Sonali Shetty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iron Sharmila fasting since year 2000. I.remember reading about her fast 15 years back and then time.to time kept finding about this iron willed woman. and.then came the phase of various politicians who were fasting on jantar mantar and then getting up the next day without getting any further with what their agenda was. I want them to go and meet Iom Sharmila and know what a strong will is all about. it is wonderful to read about the history of Manipur and the Nisha Naris and the revolution the woman power of Manipur are doing. it was a book full of information and at the same time history and courage of normal people living extraordinary lives.

[Nallasivan V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deepti Priya's work is earnest. But she does the mistake that all Irom Sharmila's supporters make: To reduce her into a symbol and to project their own worldview on Irom Sharmila's protest.

The result is a book with very little new information about Irom Sharmila the person and the activist.

[Sjl sigma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book. An eyeopener .

[Madhura Gurav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is indeed a hard-hitting account of Irom Sharmila as well as the problems faced by the people of Manipur.

The book starts off with Sharmila's decision of fasting as a reaction to the killing of 10 innocent lives by the Indian Army (17th Assam Rifles). The officers are protected by the draconian law that hasn't been revised. The author takes us back in time to explain the history of the Manipuri people, which helps us understand the psychology of the people. We are made privy to the sociological development of the Meiteis and other ethnic groups in the area.

Deepti has managed to cover many issues pertaining to AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in particular and the poor governance in the North East. Of course, all this along with Sharmila's fasting years and what all she encounters during her one-woman protest (until 2007, when the book was published; her fast ended in 2016). We also get to know about the Meira Paibis and women's movements in Manipur and the surrounding states.

I recommend this book to anyone looking to read about a strong personality dedicated to the welfare of the majority. Also, if you want to know more about how the North Easterners have been handed the wrong end of the stick, this account can shed light on that too!

[Parikhit · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book isn't completely about Irom Sharmila, but about the struggles in Manipur for acceptance, for the atrocities met out by the army and the neglect that mainland India has always harboured for the North-east. Being from the North-east region, I am able to relate to what the author has penned in this book-the role of women as peacemakers, as entities truly important for the functioning of a society, something that is quite unbelievable in a largely patriarchal mainland India. The struggles in Manipur for employment, for acceptance, for a good livelihood that is their right has always been denied. The controversial AFSPA that gives the military to rule ruthlessly has led to the protectors become predators. With an intention to curb insurgency the act only proliferates it and the common man is caught between the crossfire. It is funny how the North-east has never been in the headlines given the troubles that shroud this beautiful region, alienating the people from mainland India. I hope the book gives some insight to people and peace prevails there someday.

[Axst Jn · Rating 4 out of 5]

a nice womam fight against manipur state for abolish of afspa and had a fast unto death for 14 years from 5th November 2000

[Ashok Singha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on Irom Sharmila. Her act is one of the biggest feat in the history of struggle for peace through non violence. The author has done a good job by narrating the history of Manipur for better understanding of the rich tradition of the Manipuris. Women of Manipur has always come out strong in times of need. Nupilan (women war against colonial rule), Meira Paibis (women torch bearers correcting the society from alcoholism, drug abuse and others affecting the society. Ima Market (mothers market, where women works to meet their econimical needs).
Even during the King times, women had a special right to plead clemency.

Overall its a good start on AFSPA and its effects on the society and of course on Irom Sharmila - The Iron Lady of Manipur.

[Meghna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a biography of Irom Sharmila written by Deepti Priya Mehrotra. Irom Sharmila has become an iconic figure in the history of India for her struggle for peace in Manipur and other north eastern states. Her story is itself the story of Manipur. Deepti had showed vividly the sufferings of people and other north eastern states under the army and insurgents. Here in this book we get a different picture of army whom we consider as the saviour of our nation. Armed Forces Special Powers Act( AFSPA) which gave the right to arrest and keep under detention any person under a mere suspicion of being an insurgent was imposed in Manipur since 1958. Often the army misused these powers and targeted common people. Numerous cases of murder, torture, rape etc were reported but no action was taken as they were protected under AFSPA. Here the significance of Irom Sharmila occurs. She has been on an indefinite fast for the repeal of AFSPA from Manipur and other north eastern states. What led to her fast which started on 5 November 2000 was the massacre of ten innocent people at Malom bus stop by Assam rifles for no reason. She began her fast at the very spot where the massacre occured and since then there was no turning back. She had completed her fast for an unbelievable 15 years !!!. Authorities termed her habitual offender and force feed her through nasal tube. Her strong determination takes her forward in her fast. For common people she is the one expressing their views and voicing their concerns. As result of her fast AFSPA is removed from 7 constituencies of Manipur, but not completely. As an Indian one must read this book because it is very necessary as she is history in flesh. She has clearly shown how a common person can bring about a great change through his determination. Also the culture and history of Manipur and the famous nude protest have been mentioned in the book.