The killing of ten civilians by the Assam Rifles personnel in her village, Malom led Irom Sharmila to start a hunger strike for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Though the Supreme Court has come down on the arbitrary nature of the AFSPA, it is still in force in parts of Manipur. On Tuesday, Irom decided to call off her hunger strike. It was a landmark decision in the annals of the North East. She now plans to enter electoral politics. She had so far been fighting a personal battle against the AFSPA. Even Mahatma Gandhi’s fasting was related to mass movements. Irom had become a living icon, a goddess to the people but she was hostile to the state government. She will no doubt be requested now to reconsider her decision since the Manipur government is not willing to lift the AFSPA. Irom has made the right decision as she will undoubtedly be more effective in electoral politics.
Irom Sharmila’s decision to go on hunger strike was a moral act. She had raised difficult questions about the state and statecraft. The AFSPA is already subject to severe criticism for being a draconian measure. Sharmila’s fast decidedly played a role in the making of a decision against the Act by the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and the SC taking a dim view of the enactment. The state has so far ignored these judicial rulings. The Manipur government had also criminalized Sharmila’s protest. Of course, that made her a kind of Mother Courage in Manipur. She was a magnet when on fast. She will continue to be a great force in Manipur politics.