Irom Sharmila, has finally broken her fast of 16 years and the society has turned their back on her. She has been isolated in her own state and the society shunned her. They opposed when she went on fast and again have started opposing when she decided to break it.
Why is it that society doesn’t see NGOs and social workers as humans? When people decide to support someone for a cause, why don’t they support all the way?
Actress Renuka Sahane has come out in support of Irom,through this FB post. Known for voicing out her honest opinions, Renuka said:
Irom Sharmila if you have no place that is willing to accept you please stay with me in Mumbai, it will be an honour! All those human rights & anti AFSPA “activists” who were happy & supportive only when you had a tube attached to your nose for force-feeding or only when you were facing the wrath of the State with courage, are not worth a second thought. You are still fighting against AFSPA; you are going to do that with a person whom you have chosen to love & in a manner that you & only you should choose to do. You are so used to dissent. Now, it’s from within the people you considered your own. That is more difficult & painful.
Not everyone was on your side in 2000 when you went on your fast; not everyone is on your side now that you’ve chosen to stop it. Not everyone suffered the consequences with you. I do not consider myself politically intelligent enough to say I’m even knowledgeable about what your stand is & what its repercussions are. But I stand against all those forces who want to force their opinions; right, left or centre, on any adult woman who has chosen her form of protest, suffered the consequences of her choice, chosen a boyfriend who is “inconvenient” for people close to her & is yet again willing to take on the challenges of her choices. Why only adult women, I support the freedom of choice of every adult human being.
We have to stop this “choice-shaming”. The image of you being sent back to the hospital bed that was your prison for 16 years but has now suddenly become your home because protesting activists, your family & friends wouldn’t allow you to live among them, just broke my heart. It is a sad commentary on the fascism of people who ironically are fighting for human rights! They should try being human first!
Check out the complete post here:
By: Archa Dave
