I heard about Sharmila long back skewed amongst the turmoil news that reached us each and every day from Manipur, which happens to be my hometown. Manipur is a beautiful place full of green plants, trees, rivers, mountains and is etched in the North-Eastern corner of India. Since last coupla days I’ve been reading a lot more about her as her fast is approaching its 6th anniversary. “BBC Reports (Manipur woman’s marathon fast)”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5348414.stm that her fast will complete 6 years in November, 2006 and is recorded as the longest political protest ever.

She is being force-fed through a pipe in her nose on the orders of the state administration. Sharmila, 35, has become an iconic political figure in Manipur. She is demanding the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act of AFSPA, which gives sweeping powers to the army in the state.

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