By Dristi Jain

IROM CHANU SHARMILA: Also known as the "Iron Lady", an Anti-AFSPA crusader who's been on a fast since 2000!

Irom Sharmila's story is that of resilience and the immense power of the human spirit. Born in Manipur and having suffered from insurgency as a kid, Irom began raising her voice against the Arms Forces Special Power Act. On 5 November 2000, she began a hunger strike for the abolition of AFSPA (1958) that applies to the seven states and grants security forces the power to search properties without a warrent, to arrest people, and to use deadly forces if there is "reasonable suspicion" that a person is acting against the state. The foremost reason for her strike was that on 2 November 2000, in Malom, a town in the Imphal Valley of Manipur, ten civilians were shot and killed while waiting at a bus stop. The incident, known as the "Malom Massacre" was allegedly committed by the Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state. The victims included Leisangbam Ibetombi, a 62 years old woman and 18 years Sinam Chandramani, a 1988 National Bravery Award winner. Only after two days of her strike, she was arrested on the charge of "committing suicide" which was a crime back then. Even after the continuous deterioration of her health and constantly being arrested by the police she came out stronger than ever and won the battle. After 16 years of her dedication and perseverance on 26 July 2016, Irom Sharmila announced that she would end her fast on 9 August 2016. Sharmila was awarded the "Gwangju Prize for Human Rights" (2007), the first Mayillama award for the "Achievement of her non-violent struggle in Manipur" (2009), she won a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission and the "Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize" of the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (2010), she also won "Award for Peace and Harmony" from the Signature training centre. In 2013, Amnesty International declared her a "Prisoner of conscience" and she said "is being held solely for a peaceful expression of her beliefs. The influence made by Irom is often considered as powerful as the influences by the personalities in the past and present.