 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (April 2022) |
Irom Chanu Sharmila | |
|---|---|
 Irom Sharmila at a reception given by Solidarity Youth Movement to her in Kozhikode | |
| Born | 14 March 1972 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Civil rights activist, political activist, poet |
| Known for | Hunger strike against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act |
| Spouse |
Desmond Anthony Bellarnine Coutinho
(m. 2017) |
| Children | Nix Shakhi and Autumn Tara |
| Parent(s) | Irom c Nanda (father) Irom Ongbi Sakhi (mother) |
| Awards | Gwangju 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.
- ^ 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.