Irom Chanu Sharmila

Irom Chanu Sharmila
Irom Sharmila at a reception given by Solidarity Youth Movement to her in Kozhikode
Born (1972-03-14) 14 March 1972 (age 52)
Kongpal, Imphal, Manipur, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Civil rights activist, political activist, poet
Known forHunger strike against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act
Spouse
Desmond Anthony Bellarnine Coutinho
(m. 2017)
ChildrenNix Shakhi and Autumn Tara
Parent(s)Irom c Nanda (father)
Irom Ongbi Sakhi (mother)
AwardsGwangju Prize for Human Rights

Irom Chanu Sharmila (born 14 March 1972), also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur" or "Mengoubi" ("the fair one")[1] is an Indian civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur, which is located on the north-eastern side of India. In November 2000, she began a hunger strike for abolishing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. After 16 years, she ended her fast in 2016, after being nasally force-fed for over 500 weeks in custody. Therefore, she has been viewed as the world's longest hunger striker. Amnesty International has declared her as a prisoner of conscience.

  1. ^ Chatterjee, Rituparna (20 April 2011). "Spot the Difference: Hazare vs. Irom Sharmila". Sinlung. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.