As Tough As Iron

She is no ordinary activist with some bizarre craze for fasting on day to day issues like we see many these days catching headlines. A committed follower of Mahatma Gandhi in true sense and in actions, Irom Chanu Sharmila of Manipur is on an indefinite fast for the last 13 years!

Yes she has not taken any food voluntarily since the year 2000. Yet most of us don’t know the story of struggle of Irom and other activists of the same cause much because of national media's reluctance to focus on NE states. It is just a strange world record of fasting for the common public but the ground realities are way more disturbing. Irom’s only demand from the central government is to repeal the AFSPA( armed forces special powers act ) of 1958 which gives special power in the form of immunity to armed forces operating in sensitive regions of J&K and Northeast India in an unjust way. The political class of 1958 failed to visualize the draconian nature of the law. The law basically gives immunity to armed forces personnel for their unlawful activities. They can order ‘shoot at sight’ of  any person they suspect, can arrest anyone without warrant and none of their activities can be challenged in courts as they can’t be prosecuted  by judiciary even after doing crimes like murder or rape. For their prosecution written order from Home ministry is required and rarely this happens. The flaws of the law are enough for them to escape trial. Since the enactment of the law the criminals in the face of army or paramilitary forces have been abusing the law for their crimes in Kashmir and northeast. Most of their crimes don’t even feature in media. They have been killing innocent unarmed citizens, raping women and children of the region in the backdrop of the controversial law. 

In an incident of the year 2000 more than 12 people including children were shot in a bus top of Manipur by the military/paramilitary forces. Those citizens were merely waiting for the bus. The murdered persons included a teenager who earlier had won national bravery award too. Anti human activities like these moved many human rights activists to struggle against the law. Irom sharmila followed the non violent path of protest by not taking food which forced the authorities to feed her forcefully through her nose. Her health deteriorated and instead of taking steps to review the law the authorities started a case against her for attempt to suicide and the case still continues in courts.

One famous incident is the Kunan Poshpora village incident (1990s) of kashmir army raped the whole village! They spared none and they were brutally kicking and mutilating according to survivors yet no trial has taken place till now. Thanks to AFSPA ! All government documents and army press releases have termed it conspiracy but many NGOs have investigated and found the FIRs filed by those women. Clearly so many women filing FIRs against the stigma wont be lying. Recently Home ministry extended AFSPA in Assam for one more year despite protests and minutes after its extention the news report came " two school boys of class 10 and 7 were killed by Army in a joint operation with paramilitary as they suspected them as terrorists". this case wont have any trial too but there is pall of gloom in the homes of those two innocent kids.

 The UN also declared the law to be against human rights and against international laws. In the words of Iron lady of Manipur “ I love life and have no intention to die but I won’t end my fast till the government repeals the law, I am a follower of Gandhi and am doing a peaceful protest, I will keep working against violence and towards peace”. Even after repeated assurances by various political parties, government including prime minister, no steps are being taken to consider her plea to modify the law into a more humane one. As the trial proceeds against the brave heart, the world just beholds the proceedings but her fight goes on...

P.S I have included some links for further reads on the topic -
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in Manipur and other

Controversy over Assam deaths: army, cops deny killing schoolboys

PASSION is the key

We all have some special talents if not many. We all have certain capabilities beyond which things are almost impossible. Now if we judge a FISH by his abilities of FLYING in air then we will always be disappointed. Even if we train the fish, influence him to fly, to start flying because of the benefits of flying , the fish won't fly. Simply it will die once it comes out of water. The point is he might have been a terrific swimmer but that is not taken into account.

Parents spend thousands of rupees in nurturing the talents of child up to class 12. Art classes, dance classes, cricket coaching, singing classes are all filled by great talented students. Many win national prizes in these fields. It means talented individuals among us can master their fields quite well. The point here is suddenly after giving 12th exam almost everyone is following only two narrow paths with the signboard engineering and medical. MOST of us loved the movie 3 IDIOTS but very few grasped its meaning and true value. Even an enthusiast  wildlife photographer is trying to get a seat in medical. Due to this reason MANY other challenging departments like Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Planning and architecture, Economics, Statistics are NOT getting talented individuals. Test centres for Engg-Med are so crowded as if every Indian kid was born with the dream of becoming an engineer or doctor (which is not bad but many are aiming only quick money/job and not PASSION for that field). We have the largest population of engineers and doctors in the world but there's lack of DEDICATED and TRUE research in in this country. REASON: after getting the degree nobody's interested in the subject anymore! (The same subject for whom they have spent nights without sleeps and gave many sacrifices). The money mindedness of youth attracts them to the MNCs and they work like robot and mint money till they die.

Guess what would have happened if Einstein, Raman, Edison, Habib contractor etc had followed the same path. We would have missed out so many things which can be discovered through passion itself.

“At the end of the day we all need to remember to keep going. However, just making it another day doesn’t get us where we truly want to be. We must move with vigour, passion, and fixed determination to achieve our goals"

A recent news item showed 40% of Kota's students suffer from HYPERTENSION at this young age due to the Extra pressure given on them to crack entrances. Research says such students will never be satisfied in their professional lives and will suffer hypertension and other heart diseases. The same study also outlines the fact that they have been turned into robot like mindsets and will fail to have a good life in most cases ahead even if their bank balance will be high.

“Life is all about making choices. Right choices at the right time will be rewarded and life will give a chance to convert the wrong ones to right. Now it depends on us whether we can make the right ones or not. Same choice may be right for someone and disastrous for his friend so we have to think wisely while making choices"

HELLO !

Introducing myself in my first blog seems a good idea to start my blog right ? Okay I am 

 Snehal, young enough for not to be respected in the society for my for views but old enough to give wings to my ideas. So speaking about me I would like to say am not just an usual guy but someone who has big dreams and aspirations. I don't want to be tagged as visionary so early but that doesn't stop me from dreaming big. I am a fun lover but not a supporter of vulgarity which runs today in the name of humor. I believe everyone has a different notion of FUN but very few know the true meaning of it. Somewhere in Europe people throw tomatoes at each other at a festival which is real fun unlike those who feel puffing a smoke or going to pub is fun!. I love music and listen to songs in a variety of languages from all over the world. one of my hobby is challenging the ill mindsets deeply mushroomed in our society with facts, sarcasm and debates. I just dont like making friends for the sake of making but I love to carry on the relationships for long with a caring and friendly attitude. Studying and researching on any topic which catches my eye is one of my favorite hobby and internet surfing is the only addiction i suffer from. Too MUCH about myself and i can go on and on. So now lets get an idea of what my blog will be about.

While I was in Higher secondary I discovered my passion of writing which started with silly poems but soon became something that i cant dream a day without it. I love to write on burning topics of the society, youth issues, poetry and informative articles. Cricket, Bollywood and Politics are the three things that have flourished to the peak in this country as my friend once pointed out, so along with my blogs on my favorite topics I will cover these three areas too. I feel this millennium will be ruled by infotainment rather than conventional entertainment because education has spread far and wide sparking curiosity in the minds of young and aspiring which is a very great step towards a better world. Great democracies like that of India and US are becoming more and more transparent in their functioning, Thanks to the info revolution. Curiosity is the most important thing and I feel we die the moment we stop being curious so 

 






BE CURIOUS ! ASK QUESTIONS ! COMMENT ! POINT OUT ERRORS (if any) GIVE 

SUGGESTIONS. Hope i succeed in standing upto your expections. Thankyou :-)





*HAPPY READING*