Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Aug 30: It is a known fact that Civil Society leader and crusader of anti-corruption movement Anna Hazare's 13-day long fast received tremendous coverage from all forms of media nationwide. Not only the nation, but international media too reported extensively on the event.
But ironically enough, the intense media coverage on one fast has exposed its apathy towards another one, a fast much 'stronger' than Anna Hazare's, but which has been ignored by the Indian media as well as social network media. A few months back when Baba Ramdev got similar kind of attention from media, Swamy Nigamanda who had been fasting for more than 100 days to stop illegal mining in Jharkand died. He too failed to get any attention for his cause from the government.
The iconic struggle of Irom Sharmila in Manipur, who has been on a fast for over a decade, without food and water, is in the limelight now, mainly because of media's and also the government's utter sense of indifference.
Sharmila has been demanding that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) must be repealed and that Manipur should be freed from fear.
Frustrated Manipur activists have strongly criticised the media for neglecting North East India, and not considering it as part of India.
"It's really shameful, when Anna Hazare got 13-day non-stop attention, can't Sharmila deserve even a single day's a attention from the same media?" Mani Thapa, an woman activist questions.
Sharmila's brother said that the indifference by the government, politicians, civil society, and the media and the people was shameful.
"For ten years Irom Sharmila Chanu hasn't eaten a morsel of food, nor taken a drop of water."
She weighs just 37 kgs and most of her body organs are wasted. Her menstrual cycle has stopped. The Indian state has kept her alive on vitamins and nutrients and she is force fed twice a day through her nose.
When Team Anna already backed by thousands asked Sharmila for her support, the Iron lady expressed her solidarity but asked why could she not get the advantage of exercising her non-violent protest for justice as a democratic citizen of a democratic country.
"When Anna started fasting for four days in the month of April, Parliament, intellectual circles, the NGOs and the citizens of India discussed his issue very deeply. We felt we the people from North east are not citizens of India," her brother said.
The AFSPA gives the Army and the paramilitary forces the power to use force, shoot or arrest anyone on a mere suspicion. Sharmila began her fast after an incident in Malom when ten innocent civilians were gunned down by men of the Assam rifles.
"Whether Anna supports her or not, it doesn't matter. If he supports her it's very good as a citizen and as a human being. But at another point if he doesn't support her that is also fine with us. Sharmila will continue her fasting until she gets her demand," her brother said.
Sharmila's simple fast is an epic protest that remains unparalleled in history. But is anyone listening?