Shiban Khaibri
Sixteen year old fast by the famous Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila for a cause, she thought would bring about some change in the policy of the state administration in close liaison with different Central Governments did not work, though all, whether in the Government or in the opposition, barring red capped hard core Marxists, held the lady in high esteem for adopting a peaceful, non violent and democratic way to press for her point of view against what she termed “prolonged employment of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) in Manipur”. Sharmila has many feathers in her cap. She, besides being a leading civil rights activist, is also a matured poet and author of books. She has written a book, a quite notable one, captioned as “The Fragrance of Peace” and never written about how a person could become a professional “Sangbaz” or a stone and missile thrower on pecuniary considerations, or on daily wages, or once Indian – later turned traitor.
Sharmila is known by names like the “Iron Lady” and “Mengoubi” which means “The fair one”. She finally ended her fast recently on August 9, which she had started on November 2, 2000 and, therefore, not of 16 days but of 16 long years. In between, her physical condition deteriorated many a time and she had to be hospitalized to save her precious life as India traditionally values the life of plants, trees, animals and even venomous reptiles, not to speak of a human life. We have had no indigenous tradition, historically speaking, even remotely, of chopping heads or limbs of humans on slight whims of allegations against the state, law or the King and even on some extreme degree of dissent. Perhaps that speaks as to why the dissent even to the extent of apparent treason, is not met with severe punishment for example a few cases in Kashmir valley. It is a travesty that this country which has history on record of never having invaded any country to subjugate its people and make them live the way we do, continues till date to be harmed by obnoxious means like proxy war of terrorism and inciting people on religious bigotry. It is another thing that Indian religions reached many countries only because of love, compassion and logic and to top it all, the immortal belief of the greatness and ultimate triumph of humanity and peace.
The “world’s longest hunger striker”, as Sharmila is known, differed strongly with Governments but chose to have her voice heard through peaceful means. The Government had even to jail her and the courts did not allow her to contest elections on that very ground but Sharmila did not get discouraged and respected the law of the land. It is not that her efforts proved of no avail, instead she earned a niche in the hearts of the people and was chosen as the top woman icon of India on the Women’s International Day in 2014. Amnesty International has declared her as prisoner of conscience. In a small north eastern state Manipur, thousands of civilians have been killed in the insurgency incidents and that many innocents too could have been the victims, moved Sharmila to have the AFSPA reviewed in the state. In short, instead of inciting people on religious or ethnic or regional basis, she had opted for the peaceful methods of protest and now heartening(ly) chosen the other alternative provided by the constitution of India and that is — vote and election. She ended her fast to fight for the just cause now with the great strength of the ballot, hence her decision to fight elections and expect even be made as the Chief Minister of the state depending upon the extent of mandate she gets, seems encouraging.
A difference could surely be made through healthy and democratic politics. Touching slightly her personal life , even in her mid forties, she is still unmarried as her priority has all along been the interest and the well being of the people of Manipur and not amass fortunes and create assets, legitimatizing the same with the alibi of religious card. It is , however, to be underlined that all these years and especially during her longest fast, Congress treated the North East states very casually and at best, as a law and order problem. The same but false allegation is against the present Government made by them in desperation, about Kashmir for the last two years.
Since things have improved a lot and people’s confidence in the present Government in New Delhi has increased since Modi Government has been looking to develop the North Eastern states as its prime strategic policy, it changed the hard stance of Sharmila. The plans of Modi Government are , on the basis of massive economic development undertaken in the region, that the region could serve as a bridge between India and South East Asia.
The new generation is aspiring for massive economic take off in their respective regions; the North East Region has realized it thanks to the initiatives of the present Central Government, which can bring with it massive opportunities for the new younger generations of employment, of starting more and more micro and even macro ventures. It sounds strange that it is only in Kashmir, political leaders now in opposition in Jammu and Kashmir state hold, for political expediency, the opposite view that “economic development was no guarantee or solution of what they say “political problem” or the present violence in Kashmir which was the brainchild of Pakistan backed by intense radicalization, piled up progressively to a degree of ultimate extremism during the period 1990 till date, Kashmir has never witnessed in history. Added to it, is the suicidal policy of disgruntled politicians, defeated by the people but entered the Elders’ House in the troubled waters, otherwise a national problem but sought to be made turn into a chance to at least come into power the Bihar way, by suggesting that “PDP should join Congress, National Conference and other opposition Parties to end the violence.” He is a known face of Congress , a Harvard educated, three times Union Finance Minister who thus discharges his duty as a responsible political face of the Congress Party by “helping “the Government tide over the present crisis by suggesting to PDP to desert its coalition partner, the BJP. Another “popular” Congress leader says “Indian Occupied Kashmir”. Another Congressi says “Why Baluchistan, it is uncivilized tone”. Pakistan has not objected to the PM mentioning about Baluchistan but many apologists of Pakistan felt pungency of chilies about it which sounds strange. Sharmila, on the other hand, has now realized that many a problem could be solved by being part of the political process itself and perhaps this has given her a hope as also to Manipurians that a better dialogue , a better understanding and a better cooperation between the people of Manipur and New Delhi could bring about changes which they have had been aspiring for. An atmosphere of more trust and confidence was in the offing.
Why separatists in Kashmir cannot think on the lines of Sharmila and take the political route to settle problems, if any? The comparison between them and the Manipurian leader may sound incompatible to many but kernel of the fact remains that these leaders could join politics by fighting elections and have their way. After all, in which part of the globe, people are not bothered with the economic and developmental issues. Those in the valley who brazenly want to go to Pakistan perhaps want to lead a life of destitutes or penuries the way poor people of the PoK are leading their lives. About this stark fact when Late Abdul Gani Lone had made a mention and also had “fought” with Geelani for ousting foreign terrorists from Kashmir which Geelani had not agreed to, he was silenced forever by “insiders from our own people” as per Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat.
Take the case of the United Kingdom; it took a historic decision to leave European Union only with a hope to do economically better outside the Union. Such a decision with far reaching consequences was taken only with the view to make things on economic front better. But a leader of the stature of Farooq Abdullah strangely argues that “Economic development was not needed any more in Kashmir as a substitute to a political solution.” Compare it with the exhortation of the Late Sheikh Abdullah in 50’s to eat “potatoes instead of always look to the centre for help even in sending rice,” the staple food in the valley. The economic condition, now has reached levels, thanks to liberal developmental work and massive aids and grants by the successive central governments that now no economic development was needed but a “political” solution was “urgently” needed. What is this political solution, why to leave it to anybody’s guessing? Please say now openly and decipher this mysterious “political solution”.
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