Here are some of the images taken in the late evening of October 5, 2006. Do not be dazzled by the bright lights. The effect was due to the excellent flashlight of this reporter's camera. The place was actually unlit and felt gloomy in darkness.
A Lonely Crusade
Ms.Sharmila, enclosed within a mosquito net, was lying hidden under the blue blanket. She was being cared for by a volunteer, a young student, whose duties would later be taken over by other volunteers during the course of the night. Interestingly, the first thing Ms. Sharmila did on arriving in Delhi was to visit the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, the man who had introduced the concept of keeping fasts as a means of peaceful protest.
Ms. Sharmila says, "My fast is on behalf of the people of Manipur. This is not a personal battle - this is symbolic. It is a symbol of truth, love and peace."
A Manipuri Student Questions His Fellow Indians
Mr. Sanaban Gunajit, 27, is a student from Manipur and had come to Jantar Mantar since he identifies with the cause. He described himself as an Indian but wondered why India does not consider him an Indian. He asked why his own country's armed forces exercise unrestrained power and inflict brutalities on his people in Manipur. Mr. Gunajit pointed out that most of the victims of the army's atrocities happen to be those who have nothing to do with the insurgent groups.
Will She Die?
Ms. Sharmila will complete six years of fasting without food or water later this year. In custody, she was fed a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, laxatives, protein supplements and lentil soup through the nose with a rubber pipe. The Indian government does not want her to die for fear of creating a heroic martyr. Meanwhile, according to doctors, Ms. Sharmila's fasting is now having a direct impact on her body's normal functioning. Her bones have become brittle while the body has developed various other complications.
Article comments
1 - David
She is a brave woman. I'm concerned for her. Is there any way I can help her?
2 - MillionDollarCountDown
Oh this is sad. I hope this story circulates and gets it due attention worldwide.
3 - Mayank Austen Soofi
In a late night swoop on Friday, the Delhi police arrested Ms Sharmila from Jantar Mantar and took her to the All-India Institute for Medical Sciences for urgent medical treatment.
At the time of her arrest, her pulse was 47 -- compared to the normal range of 60-80 -- and she was running a temperature.
More than 100 police personnel arrested her even as Manipuri students and other supporters sang "We shall overcome."
"Her condition is critical and we have no option but to take her to hospital," Police said.
Source: hindu.com
4 - Sharad
A fine article Mayank, but I was surprised to read the following at the end: "Also, readers must appreciate the greatness of this country when it so freely allows its angry citizens to register their protest right in the heart of the national capital."
I am sorry Mayank, but where you see greatness as a fellow Indian, I see how hollow we all are. We lionise Gandhi, our politicians bow before his samadhi at Rajghat, make speeches and bundle up a frail girl in jail for following in his path. As an Indian I would have been prouder still if Ms. Sharmila and other Manipuris did not have to go on a hunger strike to draw attention to the problem for so many years. We must all hang our heads in shame!
5 - Vikram
This type is law is just ridiculous. By giving such power to the armed fore they are not trying to restore peace, instead they are creating much problem. The Armed force who are to maintain the law and order are actually playing with the law in their hand because of the power (AFSPA) given to them. Every human society should protest against such black law of the Indian Govt
6 - varun
This is a shame.. I am ashamed to call my self a indian. they AFSPA commits so many atrocities in that state. the indian media does not even cover it. You should reado some foreign articles about these things
7 - Manu V Mathew
This is terrible, not the act of the government but the utter silence of media and society.Something need 2 be done immediately.Today it is manipuris 2mrw we all will face this. The best thing we can do is to give attention 2 the strike and let the world know about this