Manipur revolutionary to marry her British partner in Tamil Nadu in July

[manlion]

Irom Sharmila says witnesses for her upcoming marriage registration were threatened

Following a slew of petitions opposing her marriage proposal to a British national, social activist Irom Sharmila on Wednesday said that three witnesses for the inter-religious marriage have been threatened.

“I don’t know why they are scared about us getting married. It is a private life of two persons,” Ms Sharmila said while addressing the media here on the sidelines of a seminar on freedom of expression in support of documentary film producer Divya Bharati, who faced threats for Kakkoos, a documentary on the plight of manual scavenging.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...-threatened/article19458397.ece?homepage=true

IROM SHARMILA MARRIAGE ROW: RIGHTS GROUPS HAIL OFFICIAL’S ACTION

Chennai: Human rights activists from more than 40 groups today welcomed the decision of Sub-Registrar of Marriages in Kodaikanal, overruling the objections on the marriage of human rights activist and ‘Iron Lady’ of Manipur Irom Sharmila, thereby upholding her right to choose her partner and reside in Kodaikanal.

They also urged the police to provide necessary protection to her and her husband.

”We also condemn the engineered moves, presumably by the NGOs objecting to the proposed marriage of Irom Sharmila with Desmond Coutinho before the Marriage Registrar, Kodaikanal”, Human Rights activists said in a joint statement.

The police must perform their constitutional obligations rather than aligning with the few communal, anti-secular, divisive and criminal forces of Kodaikanal.

”If there is a living embodiment of non-violence in this country, it is none other than Irom Sharmila, who is a recipient of several international awards for staging the world’s longest protest by fasting for 16 years to ensure life without the Armed Forces Special Powers Act”, it said.

http://b-live.in/2017/08/12/irom-sharmila-marriage-row-rights-groups-hail-officials-action/

 

[baajey]

It does go to show that people in Manipur donot support her. She was used by anti-Indian forces for their benefit and now discarded.

go to Manipur, see whats happening and then quote me.
ppl thr (and in Nagaland) don't consider themselves indian. they don't abuse non-nagas/non manipuris as MNS does to bhayyas, but they do not consider themselves indian.
so ur logic of her losing due to her anti-indian propaganda should be put into ur ganda until it reaches ur handa.

but she did loose her credibility when she stood for election.

she protests peacefully, u guys call it "showbaazi",
she contests "democratic" (the real one and not the cow belt ones) elections, she loses her credibility. (btw, if losing elections or winning them has something to do with credibility, then BJP is the least credible party since independence and pappu's party is the most credible one, right ?
if she picks up a gun, u will call her a terrorist.
how do that woman satisfy u, ur lordships ?

 

[Acknowledge]

go to Manipur, see whats happening and then quote me.
ppl thr (and in Nagaland) don't consider themselves indian. they don't abuse non-nagas/non manipuris as MNS does to bhayyas, but they do not consider themselves indian.
so ur logic of her losing due to her anti-indian propaganda should be put into ur ganda until it reaches ur handa.

First of all, you can use better language to have a discourse with the others even if you disagree.

Secondly, I am well aware that they donot consider themselves Indian. They are NOT anti-India however. There is a fine line between the two things.
Irom had become a magnet for people who are anti-India, from not just Manipur but all over the country - NGO's, leftists, and the like.
It was always depicted that she was the voice of the people of Manipur and the entire State stood behind her.

The fact that she could not even manage a 1000 votes and lost her deposit is an eye opener. You say that winning elections is not a barometer for credibility. I agree, however for a woman who has given her entire adult life to deprivation and become the moral spokesperson of those who were against India to not even get a 1000 votes and lose her deposit does show a massive disconnect between the people of Manipur and Irom.
So yes, in a way it does affect her credibility both within Manipur and in the rest of India.


That she is choosing to marry a foreigner further reduces her credibility in front of Manipuris (we know their stance on inter racial marriages). This doesn't affect her credibility in the rest of India. In fact, leftists and NGO's would probably like her more for doing this.

 

[baajey]

First of all, you can use better language to have a discourse with the others even if you disagree.

what better language u need? a garland will perhaps suffice ?

Secondly, I am well aware that they donot consider themselves Indian. They are NOT anti-India however. There is a fine line between the two things.

agreed. and AFSPA , sorry, continued AFSPA is helping matters immensely.

Irom had become a magnet for people who are anti-India, from not just Manipur but all over the country - NGO's, leftists, and the like.

She had a legitimate point and hence got the attention. Furthermore, ppl like you should know more about the contribution of NGOs in parts of the country where maoists, police and CRPF and their cohorts (read salwa judum) create havoc to the local populace. the only ppl who actually help these downtrodden are the NGOs. when they don't fall in line with the govt. they become ur target. agreed some NGOs promote otherwise, but that doesn't give u the right to slander all of them.

It was always depicted that she was the voice of the people of Manipur and the entire State stood behind her.

....quite an imagination u have. bringing up things out of air.

The fact that she could not even manage a 1000 votes and lost her deposit is an eye opener. You say that winning elections is not a barometer for credibility. I agree, however for a woman who has given her entire adult life to deprivation and become the moral spokesperson of those who were against India to not even get a 1000 votes and lose her deposit does show a massive disconnect between the people of Manipur and Irom.
So yes, in a way it does affect her credibility both within Manipur and in the rest of India.

Lalu, Sonia, pappu , mamta are more credible in ur eyes perhaps....and the ppl who do not stand for elections are all non credible.

That she is choosing to marry a foreigner

check ur facts. btw, what if she marries a foreigner ? would that make ur constipation problem worse ?

 

[Gadkari]

go to Manipur, see whats happening and then quote me.
ppl thr (and in Nagaland) don't consider themselves indian. they don't abuse non-nagas/non manipuris as MNS does to bhayyas, but they do not consider themselves indian.
so ur logic of her losing due to her anti-indian propaganda should be put into ur ganda until it reaches ur handa.

That would be funny since 68% of the sate is Hindu

Maybe you need to sell this snake oil somewhere else.

she protests peacefully, u guys call it "showbaazi",
she contests "democratic" (the real one and not the cow belt ones) elections, she loses her credibility. (btw, if losing elections or winning them has something to do with credibility, then BJP is the least credible party since independence and pappu's party is the most credible one, right ?
if she picks up a gun, u will call her a terrorist.
how do that woman satisfy u, ur lordships ?

Who is "you guys" ?

The Men in Black ? the people of India ?

Her only talent is eating food throught her nose and she has wasted her entire life doing that without being of any use to her people or to her society.

Her humiliation during election is a reflection of this reality.

She remains relevant only to the media who knows how to get the TRP showcasing her nose trick to monkeys like you who will then jump up and cheer. At least arvind kejriwal knew how to convert his drama into vote bank.

A foolish raving crowd watching a lone gladiator or lunatics watching WWF wrestling. That is all there is to it.

BJP WON the elections to remain credible, pappu LOST the election to become a joke, like the jokers who voted for him.

If she picks up a gun then she will be a terrorist Maybe she can make herself useful to society for a change. How long is she going to live on hand outs ? Maybe she is hoping her husband will now feed her for the rest of her life.

That women does not have to "satisfy" me, let her stick to satisfying her husband. For now, that is all she is good for.

 

[baajey]

That would be funny since 68% of the sate is Hindu

very different form of Hinduism than what is practiced in cow belt areas.

Who is "you guys" ?

The Men in Black ? the people of India ?

Her only talent is eating food throught her nose and she has wasted her entire life doing that without being of any use to her people or to her society.

Her humiliation during election is a reflection of this reality.

She remains relevant only to the media who knows how to get the TRP showcasing her nose trick to monkeys like you who will then jump up and cheer. At least arvind kejriwal knew how to convert his drama into vote bank.

A foolish raving crowd watching a lone gladiator or lunatics watching WWF wrestling. That is all there is to it.

BJP WON the elections to remain credible, pappu LOST the election to become a joke, like the jokers who voted for him.

If she picks up a gun then she will be a terrorist Maybe she can make herself useful to society for a change. How long is she going to live on hand outs ? Maybe she is hoping her husband will now feed her for the rest of her life.

That women does not have to "satisfy" me, let her stick to satisfying her husband. For now, that is all she is good for.

we are back to square one.
I think its head banging on wall on both the sides.

 

[Gadkari]

very different form of Hinduism than what is practiced in cow belt areas.

LOL... .really ?

Hindus of Manipur,

Rath Yatra of Manipur,

we are back to square one.
I think its head banging on wall on both the sides.

Nope, you want to remain in square one due to denial.

I have already moved forward.

 

[baajey]

LOL... .really ?

Hindus of Manipur,

Rath Yatra of Manipur,

Nope, you want to remain in square one due to denial.

I have already moved forward.

ok then, move on, who's stopping you.

 

[manlion]

Satyagraha, Electoral Politics and Conjugality: Understanding the Life-trajectory of Irom Sharmila

As Irom Sharmila enters the conjugal bond and steps into a new phase in her life, we recall her life’s trajectory and the many turbulent moments that made her a rare Gandhian Satyagrahi in times of growing intolerance and aggressive national politics. Here is a tribute to the woman who redefined political leadership and commitment and through her actions proclaimed how powerful the tool of ahimsa could be even when military tanks and armies rule our consciousness.

Ananya Pathak | Feature Editor | The New Leam

Irom Chanu Sharmila is civil and political rights activist from the Indian state of Manipur. She will be remembered in history for her 16 year long struggle against AFSPA ( Armed Forses Special Power Act, 1958) that applied to the seven states of the Northeast and thus legitimizes and gives authorities the power to search property without warrant, to arrest people and to even use ‘deadly force’ if they feel a suspicion that a person may do something against the state. This is quite similar to the act in the state of Jamu- Kahsmir.

To oppose this draconian law Sharmila adopted the principle of a true Satyagrahi and sat on a hunger strike which began in November 2000 and ended in 2016. After having refused food and water for sixteen long years, Irom Sharmila became the one to have the record for the longest hunger strike ever.

Having grown up in India’s northeast Sharmila knew what a perpetual situation of insurgency meant for the lives of ordinary men and women, with political violence and uprooted existences rampant all around.

From the beginning Sharmila took active part in peace movements in the Northeast but what happened in the year 2000 finally compelled her to sit on an unprecedented hunger strike. In the town called Malom which is in the Imphal Valley ten civilians were killed while waiting at a bus top. This incident which is known as the ‘Malom Massacre’ was supposedly done by Indian paramilitary forces operating in the state.

At this time Sharmila was a young girl of just 18 years and she made the decision to fight against this stark atrocity and she demanded the Indian Government to repeal the AFSPA. Since the time she resolved to sit on the fast and until the time that it ended, Sharmila was arrested and released by the police on grounds of ‘trying to commit suicide’.

On 26th July, 2016 after the 16 year long struggle that had little impact on the government policy in the northeast she decided to end her fast. It was here that she announced her plans to contest the state level elections in Manipur. She asserted that joining politics will be her new way of protesting against the AFSPA.

Irom’s stint in politics formally began when she launched her own party to fight in the Manipur elections called the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance to contest from two constituencies of Khurai and Khangabok.

The elections were fought with least monetary resources and in a way perhaps unknown and unfamiliar to elections campaign trends in the country were money flows like water and ‘buying’ and ‘selling’ of votes is common.

Irom Sharmila campaigned with humble resources and a fragile body but her commitment to her people and the cause that she was fighting for was unshakable. Tragically despite all her commitment and trials, she received only 90 votes as opposed to the winning candidate Ibobi Singh’s massive 18,649 votes.

The uniqueness of a true satyagrahi is her capacity to turn weakness into strength / Source: The Indian Express
It was hard to believe that this was the reward that she would get in her own state and from her own people after committing 16 years of her life to the cause of peace.

Disheartened but not defeated Sharmila resolved to quit politics in 2016 but asserted that she would continue to fight the AFSPA in her own way. She also expressed her desire to get married to Cotinho, a British national who stood with her firmly for many years and in many turbulent moments of her existence.

It was on August 18,2017 that she finally got married to him in a simple ceremony in Kodaikanal without family or fanfare.

I really feel happy as it is an important moment in my life. Again, I am thanking my fiancé who wholeheartedly and unconditionally stood by me. We are binding together today, Ms. Irom said.

While many individuals and organizations were opposed to her getting married, there were also many people who in their own ways sent their blessings to the newly married couple. It is indeed a new beginning for Sharmila and we congratulate her on this beautiful and significant event in her life. In times such as these where masculine militarization and the hegemonic power of the state are the dominant voices, a true Gandhian in the form of Sharmila is a jewel for the civilization.

It is ironic that despite being witness to her persistent struggle and unconditional devotion to the cause of peace in India’s northeast she lost the elections and faced such tremendous defeat. Perhaps we as citizens are so accustomed to lavish lifestyles of politicians and their vulgar display of both physical and monetary power in election campaigns that we do not trust a leader who stands on the pillar of her own merit and determination and not on the display of flowing wealth.

It is also a paradox that while we claim that there is a dearth of honest politicians in the country we are not prepared to give an ‘honest’ person a chance in politics. Irom Sharmila is a woman who is an example of courage, willpower and inner strength- a political leader that we collectively decided to deprive ourselves of! Hopefully before it is too late we will reinvent our democratic choices and build a nation that is awakened to inner light and one that knows how to distinguish ‘real’ from ‘unreal’ in all walks of life.