STATE MANIPUR
extreme anguish over this killing
was manifested in her continuous
hunger-strike since then.
Sharmila is probably the only
woman, rather person on earth to
continue with her hunger strike
for so many years – undeterred
and resolute to get the Armed
Forces Special (Powers) Act or
AFSPA revoked, besides getting
the Disturbed Areas Act with-
drawn from the state.
Though it would be wrong to
say that she was starving for that
many years (as the state would
not allow her to die that way), it
is quite a unique movement, in it-
self, to reckon with.
While Manipur is said to
have maximum number of armed
militant outfits, this sort of non-
violent militancy (activism) also
made a huge impact on the sys-
tem of governance. Sharmila
doesn’t know whether she would
be able to see the fulfillment of
her dream or not, but she is quite
sure neither her mother nor she
would succumb to the pressure.
They have not met for an equal
number of years (another display
of protest) and continue to remain
afar till the goal is reached.
Sharmila is highly influenced
by the South African activist
Nelson Mandela, who had spent
27 years in jail. And this Mani-
puri activist, who is under police
custody, may have a new plan to
break the record of Nelson Man-
dela’s stint in jail.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration
to say that Sharmila’s struggle
found more takers, when 32-year
old girl, Thangjam Manorama
Devi was picked up from home
on charges of being involved with
18 August 08
A Women activists in clash with security forces in Imphal.
the militants, and later tortured, in
all probability raped, and killed
by the 17th Assam Rifles.
Thangjam Manorama, was
the daughter of late Thangjam
Birahari and Thangjam Ongbi
Khumanleima of Bamon Kampu
Mayai Leikai, who did not per-
form the last rites since her death
on July 10, 2004.
Earlier her mother was quoted
as saying: “We have decided not
to perform her rituals, which is a
must for us, until and unless AF-
SPA is repealed. We can’t bear
this. Leaving her necessary rites
undone is really torturing us si-
lently. Her soul may be wander-
ing here and there, around us. Be-
ing her family, we, in heart, want
to perform her rituals.”
But they could not wait any
longer. They organized for the fi-
nal rites – for the funeral, a wood-
en image (local name Pangong)
dressed in the clothes of the late
Manorama was cremated. Her
mother was till then preserving
NNN Photo
the late Manorama’s clothes.
Thangjam Dolendro, brother
of the late Manorama, said these
rites had to be performed as ac-
cording to the Meitei tradition, a
family that does not perform the
last rites (funeral ceremony) of
the dead is prohibited from par-
ticipating the religious rituals and
the like. “Therefore our family
decided to perform these rites,”
he added.
It is not about their demand
for the withdrawal of the Act that
makes them innovate their ways.
By tradition Manipuris are cre-
ative and that can be judged from
their rich tradition of art and cul-
ture. Manipuri paintings, dance
and sculptures alike – reflect the
creative minds of the people that
needed so much struggle to gain
international attention.
Manipuri dance is one of the
six major classical dances of In-
dia and is inextricably woven into
the life pattern of Manipuri peo-
ple. The most striking part of the
August 08 19