On 3rd March, Irom Sharmila came to delhi for a court hearing that was scheduled for 4th March. Several members from the Save Democracy Repeal Afspa Campaign had gone to recieve her at the IGI Airport. She was taken to the Manipur House where members of several organisations and Faisal Khan and Daniel Mung of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign were also present. Some of them had also interacted with her. Faisal Khan of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign had interacted with her.

Irom Sharmila was accused under IPC 309 for committing “suicide”. She had refused to plead guilty in the court. She said that she was not committing suicide. She said that she loves life and does not want to take her life. She remarked, “I value life and justice”.

The court had also permitted her 5 minutes to talk to the media. A large crowd of supporters had gathered outside the Patilala Court. They shouted anti-AFSPA slogans and shared experiences in the AFSPA-imposed states. The police had also man-handled the crowd several times. They were not allowed to enter the court.

She was then taken back to the Manipur House and next day in the morning at 7, she has been taken back to Imphal.

On the eve of Human Rights Day, volunteers of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign(SSSC), a nation-wide struggle to protest against the neglect and suppression of Irom Sharmila, a Manipuri human rights activist who has been on a hunger strike against AFSPA in Manipur for 12 years now, organized a human chain to at India Gate at 5 PM. SSSC appeals to the Government to open talks with her. For over a year, SSSC has been organizing public demonstrations, candle-light vigils, signature campaigns, caravans and awareness programmes in colleges across the nation and beyond.

The motive of the human chain was established by the organizers. Ravi Nitesh, one of the organizers, remarked that it is “a way to spread the word among the citizens about a fellow citizen. Irom Sharmila has been struggling for 12 years to argue for rights which are given to everyone else in the country”.

To this, Mohammad Tanveer added that, “She is not just a citizen but a truth democrat. Her ongoing struggle shows her faith in the democratic institutions of the country. But the Government has chosen to neglect her non-violent and democratic voice. We ask why?”

Shaheen Muhammad, another organizer, argued that, “When the Government can talk to naxals and terrorists. Why can’t they talk to someone who has been on a non-violent struggle for rights of people? It is shocking that in these 12 years, the Government has not sent even one delegation to meet her.

Pankaj Pathak stated that, “On human rights day, this human chain symbolizes another blot on the World’s largest democracy. We support Irom and her struggle as we believe that every citizen of this country deserves the same rights and privileges.”

Another volunteer, Shekhar Jain, argued that, “For over a year, we have been organizing activities to spread the word about her struggle and we have hardly come across a person who has been unsympathetic towards her struggle and her people. So the logic of the Government that people are unsympathetic and insensitive towards North-east states is quite a myth.”

Even here, when the human chain was formed, many from the crowds joined them. The volunteers had also distributed pamphlets with basic information on her and her struggle.

One of those who joined the chain remarked, “I was shocked to hear about her. This is unimaginable. How can someone be on a hunger-strike for 12 years? This Government is insensitive and discriminatory.”

“It is true that we have always been so ignorant about the North-East but this does not mean that we are insensitive. This is really shocking that such a thing is happening in our own country. Why do we blame other countries for human rights discrimination then?” added another.

A college student commented, “Is this the reality of a diverse nation? We are one and we must enjoy equal rights”.

The Human chain turned out to be another mechanism to gather support for Irom Sharmila and give her the hope that she is not alone in her struggle.

Nationwide Sharmila Satyagrah observed across India on 6th April 2012

6 APRIL, 2012:
NATIONWIDE SHARMILA SATYAGRAH ON THE HISTORICAL DAY OF NAMAK SATYAGRAHA

Volunteers of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) today observed the historical day of ‘Namak Satygraha’ as ‘Sharmila Satyagraha’. This Sharmila Satyagraha was observed in many states where activists handed over a memorandum regarding demand of the campaign for Irom Sharmila. Though in many states, offices of Chief Ministers and District Magistrates denied to accept the memorandum due to official holiday, the same will be submitted on Saturday, however the various programs were organized everywhere.

In New Delhi, volunteers gathered at Manipur Bhawan to showcase the place i.e. Manipur, where Irom Sharmila, a human rights activist, is on hunger strike since last 11 years. After the silent protest at Manipur Bhawan, volunteers of the campaign moved towards Prime Minister Residence to submit the memorandum of their demands but heavy police force stopped them to move ahead only after few meters. After discussion with police officials, police zypsy vehicle itself carried two members of the campaign to submit the memorandum.

A member of the campaign Manisha Kaushik told “we choose the day 6th April when in 1931 Mahatma Gandhi along with many followers broke the Salt Law. SSSC has decided to choose the same day to protest against the Government on the same pattern of non violence for justice. We condemn the autocracy of government and every possible effort to suppress the voice of people’s desire on the issue of Irom Sharmila. The Government has not shown any effort to resolve the issue of Irom Sharmila since last many years.”

Faisal Khan, another key member of the campaign described that “today we are receiving phone calls and sms from various places across India where people gathered for Irom in solidarity with the SSSC initiative.” He further added that even in Manipur, a seminar is being organized by Just Peace Foundation in solidarity, A sit in protest and rally observed in Kerala by CRSJS society in solidarity of SSSC; in J&K, people gathered and told their demands with district authorities; while in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and in many other states, people support received.”

Aditya Dubey, a software professional and activist told “Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) has been continuously working on the issue of Irom Sharmila by spreading awareness and generating support for Irom Sharmila on humanitarian and democratic grounds. From candle vigils at Rajghat and India Gate and across other cities of India to Signature Campaigns in the 18 Indian States and in many countries; SSSC has been engaged through all possible means and in the process, today has gathered support of more than 90 civil society organizations.”

People from all walks of life participated in the program. A student of Bhagat Singh College Darpan told that even after being a follower of non violence and truth, the Government has suppressed Irom’s voice.

Those who were present includes Qamar Intekhab, Abhishek Shukla, Mohd. Aarish, Ravi Jain, Sulabh, Ritika Chawla, Pankaj Pathak, Rishikesh and several other supporters. It was also said that Sharmila Satyagrah is popular on social media like Facebook, Twitter, etc, where hundreds of people shared and re-tweeted the news of this activity and thus sent the message to lakhs of people across the globe!

Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) has been continuously working on the issue of Irom Sharmila by spreading awareness and generating support for Irom Sharmila on humanitarian and democratic grounds. From candle vigils at Rajghat & India Gate and in many other cities of India to Signature Campaigns in the 18 Indian States and in many countries, from street marches to documentary screenings at SAARC university, DU, IITs and in many other colleges, from the support show by artists at Gateway of India to human chain at Marine drive, from the historical jouney of Srinagar – Imphal & Ahemdabad – Srinagar to meetings with NHRC chairman, from Press conferences and protest to sending public appeal to Prime Minister, SSSC has been engaged through all possible means. SSSC has now gathered support of more than 90 civil society organizations.

To continue to strengthen the issue, the campaign has now decided to move ahead on its path for demand of justice through a nationwide call on 6th April. 6th April is the historical day when Mahatma Gandhi alongwith many followers of truth & non violence broke the Salt Law . SSSC has decided to choose the same day to protest against the Government on the same pattern of non violence for justice. We condemn the autocratic behavior of government and every possible effort to suppress the voice of people’s desire on the issue of Irom Sharmila. The Government has not shown any effort to resolve the issue of Irom Sharmila since last many years. Even after being a follower of non violence and truth, the Government has suppressed her voice.

Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, had taught us to register our grievances and protest against autocratic laws and to raise our voices against all type of injustice and therefore we on the historical day of 6th April, will register our demand with the Union Government of India through sending a common memorandum addressed to Prime Minister of India.

Volunteers of SSSC will protest on district headquarters in many states of India. We will send common memorandum to Prime Minister through district authorities. In Delhi, we will go for a silent protest before Manipur bhawan and will submit the memorandum at PMO. Volunteers in state capitals will send the memorandum through Chief Minister Office.

Please send us your name/contact number/City/E-mail for joining the 6th April program. You just need a dedication to work for truth and justice through non violence. You only have to take responsibility of submitting memorandum (provided by SSSC) to respective authority of your district/state.

CALL US at 9958907799, 9968828230, 9873146393, 8882071753 or email us at info@savesharmila.org for more details!

Directed by young film maker Borun Thokchom, “The Silent Poet” had been recommended as the best documentary award in the 2nd Siliguri International short and documentary film festival held last month.

This time, the film has been selected in the international competition section of the week-long festival to be held in Mumbai in February next year, while “SOS” directed by Saikhom Ratan and RK Suresh has been selected for the International information section.

The other two films selected for the festival include ‘Rock and Egg’ by Romi Meitei and ‘April 6th’ By Chandam Natraj. While ‘Rock and Egg’ has been selected for International fiction competition section ‘April 6′ is adjudged for Indian documentary competition Section.

It may be recalled that Romi Meitei’s “Rock and Egg” was selected for screening at the in the Indian Panorama section of International Film Festival in India at Goa at the early part of this month in Short film category.

The objective of the 12th edition of the MIFF for documentary, short and animation films is to act as a catalyst for new ideas and provide a pedestal for new and budding film makers from across the country, said Bankim, Director General, Films Division.

During the festival, workshops, seminars and open forums would be held. MIFF 2012 would focus more on information dissemination and education and twelve awards will be given in various categories, he said adding that the festival has attracted a total of 799 entries from 37 countries across the globe.

“I am so glad with the great news of my film being selected again for international festival. My film deserves to get an entry into the prestigious MIIF,” an elated Borun from Kongba in Imphal East, said.

Demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act that gives sweeping powers to the armed forces even to the extent to shoot man on mere suspicion, Sharmila (39) has been on a hunger fast since November 5, 2000.

She embarked on her extraordinary mission a couple of days after Assam Rifles soldiers mowed down ten civilians including a child bravery award winner along Tiddim road in Imphal West.

She is currently being forced fed through nose at the security ward of the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) close to her Kongkham Leikai residence in Imphal East.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has not investigated cases of human rights violation by AFSPA. NHRC itself took suo moto on the issue of Irom Sharmila but closed this case after submission of some report by Additional Secretary (Home), Manipur. NHRC has not investigated cases of human rights violation in the AFSPA cases, rather than only two investigations made by NHRC, which were related to Loktak lake and health related issue.

SAVE SHARMILA Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) has filed a RTI with NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) and have recieved reply from NHRC that there is no information available about any member’s visit to Manipur.

A delegation from SAVE SHARMILA Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) will meet with NHRC Chairman to express its views and to present them a memorandum regarding fast of Irom Sharmila.

The RTI filed by SAVE SHARMILA Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) and the reply from NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) can be downloaded from:

1) Download the RTI filed with NHRC.
2) Download the reply from Chairman of NHRC.

You could also view the RTI filed with NHRC below:

The reply from Chairman of NHRC can be viewed below:

Irom ‘Chanu’ Sharmila, The Iron Lady of Manipur, is a civil rights activist and poet. She has been on a hunger strike for the last 11 years, demanding the Indian Government to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), which empowers military forces to arrest, shoot, torture and even kill anyone on the grounds of mere suspicion.

As a creative individual, here’s what you can to do support her non-violence resistance. “A Postcard for Irom” lets you draw, doodle, sketch, stitch, sew, paint, shoot an image, write poetry and create art with words, graphics, colors, images, illustrations, messages and we’ll send it to Irom Sharmila.

Not all of us are brave & resilient enough to carry on a life threatening fast in order to eradicate unjust laws but we can surely support her and extend our solidarity to the cause. Your postcard is a simple way of letting her know that she’s not alone in her silent struggle. Let’s make this creative agitation a movement to abolish AFSPA & free Irom Sharmila.

Postcard (artwork) Size: 4inch X 6inch

All the postcards will be displayed at art galleries, colleges and street community centers across Mumbai. The postcards will be handed over to Irom Sharmila on her birthday, 14th March. A copy of the postcards will be send to The President of India.

For more information or to submit your postcard artwork kindly contact us at mumbai.events@savesharmila.org

Contrary to the common perception that literary figures live in a world of their own, some prominent voices in India are drawing attention to national issues through their works—whether to express solidarity with a northeast activist fasting for over a decade, or to mourn the death of a dreaded Naxal leader. Some like those written for the Kudankulam nuclear power protests have become popular enough to be turned into songs to convey the anger.

These literary voices gathered at Samanvay, India Habitat Centre’s first Indian Languages Festival, organised here from 16-18 December. The writers not only discussed some of the important issues in the literary world but also expressed their anger—albeit in a subtle way—on social issues.

Irom Sharmila’s fast, which has been getting lot of media attention, found support from unexpected quarters in July. Leading Tamil poet Malathi Maithri was so moved by the Tamil translations of Sharmila’s poems that she decided to express her love back in Sharmila, My Love. “As an activist and as a woman, I can feel Sharmila’s emotions. Through the poem, I have tried to celebrate her,” she says. Malathi is a well-know award- winning writer and the Editor of Anangu, the first Tamil feminist political magazine.

Sharmila, My Love – by Malathi Maithri

All my kisses to you return back to me futile
Locked all the entries of indulgence in your body

Streets without regimental parade
Gardens without echoes of gunshot
Villages without torture chambers
Jungles not contain mutilated bodies of women
Mere residual of your dreams

Life and justice of our land trampled under the heavy boots of soldiers
Your emaciated body, your trembling fingers desire peace on our land
Stubborn heart inside your fragile chest
Struggling constantly against bloody maniacal power
Not even mild ray of justice touches your doorway

Demonic mouth of atrocity goes on munching your tender dreams under the silent guard of hundred and ten crores.

Another well-known Tamil poet Kutti Revathi has recently written five poems on the controversial issue of Kudankulam. The poems, which have been composed as songs, are used to motivate the protestors. She feels that her long association with the place and interest in activism helped her write on the issue. “I wrote them as poems and am happy that the songs are able to inspire the people,” she says. Revathi is known for her famous poem Mulaigal and is Editor of feminist journal Panikkudam

INTERVIEWS:

Malathi Maithri

What inspired you to write on Irom Sharmila?
I run a Tamil magazine called Anangu and in the first issue itself we wrote about Irom. In 2006, I was in Delhi attending functions and seminars. I heard a lot about her. When I went to Jawaharlal Nehru University, I found a lot of students discussing her. So I asked one of the students to write about her and published the piece in the magazine. In June, I read Irom’s poems translated in Tamil and felt very strongly and emotionally about the issue. Being a woman, I understand her feelings. This is what inspired me and through the poem I want to celebrate her.

What are you basically trying to say through the poem?
I want to appreciate the strength of her soul. The soul is struggling from more than ten years. It is a great thing. As a human rights activist, I struggle in Tamil Nadu and as a woman I feel strongly for her. She inspires and gives lot of energy to others women activists.

Why is it titled Sharmila, My Love?
It is a very personal and emotional call. It is a very loveable way to call someone.

Have you ever met her or have sent your poem to her?
No. I wish to meet her one day and have tried sending the poem through many people in past two months. I don’t know if they have been able to deliver it.

What was the reaction of your readers?
We received many mails appreciating the poem and we got a very good response to it in Tamil.

Kutti Revathi

When did the idea of writing on Kudankulam strike you?
I am connected with activism since the last three years and my native place Nagercoil is quite close to Kudankulam. I had been visiting the place with documentary filmmaker RR Srinivasan and we have documented the transformation. When a person associated with the movement approached me, I decided to write something revolutionary. Poems are usually written at personal level, but here we wanted something which would also keep the spirit of protestors high. Dr Padmanabhan, who is a scientist and activist, helped me in getting the details. After I wrote the poems, they were turned into a song.

When did you write these poems?
I wrote all five of them some three weeks ago.

Did you visit Kudankulam to see the impact of your poems?
No. But I heard that the songs got standing ovation. I am planning to visit Kudankulam by 27 December for few days.

What kind of impact, you think, political poems have?
It doesn’t always turn out to be what we think. When we get affected by the issues in society, we voice them. These days, from Irom Sharmila to Kudankulam to the issue of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers, women have started actively participating in such issues. Poetry has brought a consciousness in them. It touches the heart directly. Sometimes you can’t measure the impact directly and physically but it would echo forever. Even if the Kudankulam issue is resolved, it would keep on reverberating. Akira Kurosawa made a film called Dreams… one nightmare could be nuclear disaster and problems associated with atomic power plants. That impacted me big time. It has so much poetry in it.

Do you think it is right to mix activism with poetry?
Hundred per cent. Activism is always there in poetry. It is a tool for struggle and a tool to fight. It is not fiction, it is not narration; it is the voice of the heart. Poetry can be true all the time. You can’t eliminate activism from it.

The struggle of the people of Manipur against the continued imposition of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) embodied in the 11-year long fast by Irom Sharmila is one of the main highlights.

As the title suggests, the play is about Socrates and his trial. His opponents charge him with misguiding the youth and refusing to accept the God recognised by the state. His enemies have grabbed the state apparatus and are using it to crush him because they perceive his ideology as dangerous for their survival. The period is 399 BC. The Athenian state is ruled by a clique led by Saturos, a despot, who destroyed the democratic values of Athenian society. An expert in the use of multi-media in the theatre, director Bapi Bose relates the trial of Socrates to our times.

His aim is not merely to reveal Socrates’ trial, but to present it in the context of human history which has been ravaged by despotic forces at different points of time, and humanity’s united resistance against such fascist forces. Thus the director gives the play a universal dimension, using multi-media devices. The play opens with the torture chamber in which suspects, the collaborators with Socrates, are being subjected to inhuman torture. The scene presents a terrifying image of state violence.

The second half presents Socrates’ trial. The sham character of the court is reflected in the way the voices of reason, justice and truth are drowned in the cacophony of demagogic rhetoric by the lawyers hired by the state. The offstage voices create the illusion of a trial court with a large hired crowd demanding the death penalty for Socrates. The farcical nature of the trial court is also revealed through a huge swing. The chief-justice frequently uses it in a rather playful mood. Socrates occupies his place near a vVedi like pattern, an altar. There is another motif which suggests the circle of time, the march of history — these are metaphorical statements to reveal that there have been martyrs in the cause of democracy and freedom.

Bose is an innovative stage designer who is inspired by the Jatra stage and recreates it to be in tune with the modern concept of stagecraft. Free from the clutter of projecting the period details of Athenian society of 400 BC, he captures the classic elegance by simply erecting two pillars wrapped in white drapery on either side of the acting area. Similarly, he reinforces the leitmotif of the play through the music score drawn from various western sources, imparting dynamic undercurrents to the production.

An expert in scenography and illumination, Bose shows his innovative style in projecting film clippings on the screen upstage to form a powerful video collage. The video projection is done between the transitions of scenes and brings home the message about the stark contemporary realities. We watch clippings of the National Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, suspending all the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution, putting opposition leaders behind bars; we see the demolition of the Babri Masjid by the Right-wing Hindutva hordes. By highlighting these episodes as assaults on democracy, the director warns us that fascistic forces must be combated to save democracy.

There are heart-wrenching images of the massacre of minorities in Modi’s Gujarat. We watch the struggle of the people of Manipur against the continued imposition of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) embodied in the 11-year long fast by Irom Sharmila. Video footage of the uprisings of people against despotic rulers in the Arab world indicate the democratic upsurge.

The play gains from the brilliance of the dedicated cast. Vidya Bhushan Kulshreshtha plays Socrates with rare subtlety. His Socrates himself goes to his enemies who are unable to arrest him. He refuses to accept their humiliating proposals as an alternative to the death penalty. All through his trial he pleads his case logically, rationally, displaying complete faith in his convictions and the relevance of his message to humanity.

Khitij Kokas as Plato who is shattered to hear the death sentence awarded to his dear master, Socrates. Dhruv Kumar Singh in two roles — Saturos, an arch-opponent of Socrates and Chief-Justice, Subhash Chandra Tyagi as a Socrates-4 and Crito and Mir Sarwar as Theramenes impress the audience with their mature histrionic talents.

“I have changed the climax of the play a little. This is dedicated to the lone struggle of Sharmila. Although I have not named her anywhere in the play, but there are similarities with her life,” theatrician Koushik Sen said.

It was after he read that Sharmila has not eaten a morsel of food for the last 11 years to protest against the ‘draconian’ Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), he saw Tagore’s work in a different light.

“It immediately made me think of her and so when I decided to direct it, the change came automatically. Theatre has to be kept con-temporary and we cannot keep on harping on the past,” Sen said.

Inspired by a tale from the Buddhist series in ‘Abadan Shatak’, ‘Natir Puja’ is the only instance when Tagore interacted closely and directly with the medi-um of cinema. In 1932, new theatres had made it into a film.

Tagore had himself essayed an important role in this dance-drama which he also directed.

Sen’s ‘Natir Puja’, to have Arpita Chatterjee and Kanchan Mullick in key roles, will be one of the five plays during the 11th edition of Vodafone’s five day Odeon theatre festival beginning December 17.

Yet another adaptation of Tagore’s work would feature in the theatre festival.

‘Juta Abhiskar’, which echoes the bard’s views on social issues, has been adapted in Raja Bhattacharya directed ‘The Great New Life’ and would view the subject through the eyes of those working in a circus.

Rajat Kapoor’s ‘Clown Lear’, which sees King Lear from the eyes of a clown, will be the opening play. Salim Arif’s ‘Hum Safar’, which features a poem written by Gulzar and is a modern day tale on the relationship of a couple and their search for emotional stability would also be staged during the festival.

The theatre fest will also present ‘Ashalin’, a play written by West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu.