IRON LADY

WOMEN V

She's just been released from prison yesterday.
She's been undergoing fast for the last more than 10 years demanding removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 from this region. This act has been imposed to counter the armed struggle for independence by the liberation/revolutionary organisations of the region which has been going on for about half a century now. This special act empowers the security forces to nab or shoot anybody under suspicion. This is where the controversy of the pros and cons of this act surfaced since long as more and more innocent civilians were killed under the shield of this act.

That was one such mass killing of people in a Bus Stand at Malom in 2000, that IROM CHANU SHARMILA, now the IRON LADY, began her fast unto death demanding immediate withdrawal of this act. She's been arrrested by the govt. when her health detiorated and has since been under forced feeding. Every now and then, she's been released, she resumed her fast, arrested again and the cycle goes on and on for the decade long period.

The international communities working on human rights et al (viz. Amnesty International and other international human rights organisations etc.) have recognised her struggle and she was given the title IRON LADY.

Now, just after release yesterday, she continued her fast. This image was taken in the morning while she was having some talks about her opinion on the International Women's Day.

Actually, I was planning to portray her specially on IWD hearing she was going to be released on the 8th. However, it was delayed till the 10th.


Judging by previous records, she might be arrested soon.