Irom Sharmila - A Lifestory

An Indian civil rights fighter, political person, and writer is known for never giving up. Her story is known far outside of India. She became a symbol of calm fighting because she stopped eating for 16 years to protest a law that gave special power to the armed forces. She was born in Manipur, India. She saw how the special power law hurt her community. Because of this, in 2000, she stopped eating after seeing people killed by security forces in the Malom Massacre. She stopped eating on 02 November 2000, and it lasted until 09 August 2016. This became a strong symbol of fighting without violence. During this time, she was arrested many times and forced to eat through her nose to stay alive. Even though it was hard on her body and feelings, she kept asking for the special power law to be canceled. Even though she stopped her hunger strike, she still fights for human rights and fairness. She even tried to get into politics, running in the 2017 Manipur Assembly elections, but she did not win. No matter what, she is known around the world for working for peace and fairness. She is called the "Iron Lady of Manipur" because she never gives up.