“I will only withdraw the fast when the government withdraws the Armed Forces Special Powers”
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Irom Chanu Sharmila
Irom Sharmila Chanu, also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur" or "Mengoubi" is an Indian civil rights activist and poet from the state of Manipur. In 2000, she began a hunger strike to abolish the Armed Forces Act, 1958. She ended her intermittent fast in 2016, after being force-fed for over 500 weeks in custody. Amnesty International has declared her a prisoner of conscience.
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culture · Indian civil rights activist · poet · journalist · writer · peace activist · human rights defender · also Irom Chanu Sharmila, Irom Sharmila Chanu, Iron Lady of Manipur, Mengoubi, Sharmila
Born 14 March 1972 · Q467322
17 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 4 entries
Public attention spiked: 2,528 Wikipedia readers in one day, 17.7× the usual 143, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 4,879 Wikipedia readers in one day, 34.1× the usual 143, with 1 article edits. Editors noted: Subsequent work Converted bare URLs into proper citations
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Public attention spiked: 24,830 Wikipedia readers in one day, 173.6× the usual 143, with 0 article edits.
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2019· 1 entry
After the death of Gauri Lankesh, Sharmila criticized the NDA government, accusing it of disregarding people's sentiments when making policy decisions
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2017· 1 entry
On Thursday 17 August 2017, Irom Sharmila Chanu married her British partner Desmond Anthony Bellarnine Coutinho in Kodaikanal, a hill station in Tamil Nadu.
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2016· 1 entry
After being force-fed for over 500 weeks in custody
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2013· 1 entry
Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of conscience, and said she "is being held solely for a peaceful expression of her beliefs
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2011· 3 entries
Following that in October 2011, the Manipur Pradesh All India Trinamool Congress announced their support for Sharmila and called on party chief Mamata Banerjee to help repeal the AFSPA.
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Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, sent two representatives to meet her
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The Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) was launched to highlight Sharmila's struggle and in December 2011, Pune University announced a scholarship program for 39 female Manipuri students to take degree courses in h
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2010· 1 entry
Won a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission
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2009· 1 entry
Was awarded the first Mayilamma Award of the Mayilamma Foundation "for achievement of her nonviolent struggle in Manipur"
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2004· 1 entry
“I will withdraw the fast as and when the government withdraws the Armed Forces Special Powers Act unconditionally.”
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2000· 2 entries
Career landmark: hunger strike.
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Began a hunger strike to abolish the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958
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1972· 1 entry
Born 1972-03-14.
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