With 'supporters' like this, Irom needs no enemies

On June 26, Sharmila had expressed her decision to end her fast and take a political route to fight the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). She stated that she wanted to live a normal life and marry her British-Indian boyfriend Desmond Coutinho.

As soon as Sharmila called off her fast, the 44-year old was criticised by her supporters, who accused her of 'cheating' them.

Her choice has not gone down well with those who restrained themselves to 'supporting' her efforts from the outside.

They apparently hoped she would either remain force-fed and fasting for the rest of her life or die, becoming a martyr for their cause. Her well-fed supporters are seeing her decision to try and form a government and marry an outsider as a betrayal.

Those who idolised her seemed to have convinced themselves that she would be the face of their struggle forever.

In a horrifying sight, strong protests from her own supporters forced Irom to go back to the hospital ward where she was imprisoned for 16 years.

Sharmila was released from Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences at 4 pm on Tuesday, but she had no place to go as she was even blocked from going to activist and former health director Thiyam Suresh’s house in Keishamthong Laisom.

With no other option, she was brought back to her hospital cell by 10 pm.

To general astonishment, even her family members - including mother Sakhi Devi and brother Irom Singhajit - have refused to let her into their homes.

Currently, with no feeding tube on, she is still in the hospital cell, freed by own will but imprisoned by her crusaders, who were once her supporters.

So far, none of the protestors has volunteered to take up her place on the 'fast till I change the world' pedestal, though they are vilifying her for choosing another path.

In a small silver lining, she does retain some supporters.

Among them, popular musician Akhu Chingangbam wrote on Facebook “She fought for us for 16 years, and that was what we gave her in return. Keep aside her going to politics and marrying a non-local; that’s a different thing. As fellow humans, at least give her the courtesy on her first day of freedom/bail from police and hospital.”

The singer also referred to people who were challenging Sharmila’s decision said, “You can continue the protest on her behalf if you are that mad or pissed. I don’t think she can sue you. She has represented enough of this bloody land.”