One might be permitted to say that while the British ruled us then; the revelation of the numerous scams in the country has proven that corruption rules us today. As Bhagat Singh stood against the might of the British empire and the oppression that was synonymous with the British Raj, a new age of freedom fighters have risen today who combat this modern day oppressor. Though many such freedom fighters have emerged, Anna Hazare stands head and shoulders above his peers. Hazare’s 98 hour fast shook the very echelons of Indian power. During the hunger strike many senior leaders of Parliament, including Sonia Gandhi had requested Anna Hazare to end his hunger strike and had even given their assurance of prompt action to be taken with regard to the passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill. But an unfazed Hazare did not break his fast on the eventual day of April 9 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar without getting a notification issued by the Government of India and a deadline set for the passing of the bill by the 15th of August in Parliament.

Mr Hazare was hailed all over the country by the media, service men, activists and the list of supporters is unending. Through his fast, Hazare emerged as someone that the common man could look up to as everyone was facing the onslaught of corruption in our country. His effort to bring about transparency is a job well done but it is not yet complete. However, one can’t deny that it is definitely a good start in curbing corruption.

The common man had a part to play. Corruption had plagued every individual in the country directly or indirectly. Be it through a traffic fine or in trying to acquiring a simple certificate, palms need to be greased. Even the cops require money to at least pay attention to your case or it just goes down as an FIR in the record books and ends up as an unsolved mystery - one among the many Bermuda triangles that we have in India.

What is even mysterious is when 98 hours of Anna Hazares fast can cause sleepless nights to the whos who in governance eleven years (11 YEARS) OF FASTING by a social activist in the remote state of Manipur does not move the Government or the public at large. Irom Sharmila Chanu from Manipur has been on a fast unto death campaign for the last eleven years and yet, this has not stirred the hearts of fellow Indians as did Anna Hazare. While more then 450 cities across the nation took part in Hazare’s movement in some way or the other, more then a decade and still Sharmila’s pleas are falling on deaf ears.

While corruption is the dilemma of every Indian (to commit or not to commit) the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 (AFSPA) is a nightmare for the people living under its shadows be it in Manipur or Kashmir.

The AFSPA which was enforced by the Government of India in Manipur since 1980 allows the army to use force, shoot or arrest anyone without warrant on the mere suspicion that someone has committed or is about to commit a cognizable offence. The Act also prohibits any legal or judicial proceeding against army personnel without previous sanction of the Central Government.

With the exposure of the daylight killing of Chongkham Sanjit who was killed in a fake encounter in 2009 in Imphal, Manipur, the misuse of the powers granted by this Act was highlighted and resulted in widespread protest in the Northeastern state. The Act which has time and again drawn criticism both within India and from abroad was once again the subject of debate.

Iron Sharmila started her crusade against the Act of 1958 on the 3rd of November 2000. She was arrested three days later and the whole episode of arrest and release has been an ongoing affair. This is due to the fact that Sharmila was arrested and charged with ‘attempt to commit suicide’ which is illegal under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code and is punishable ‘with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year (or with a fine, or with both). As such, she has been ritually released from custody and subsequently rearrested a few days later every year since 2000.

The pertinent question here is - if Irom Sharmila was booked under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code for ‘attempt to commit suicide’ why is it that the Government did not arrest Anna Hazare on the same charges? If her act was indicative of an attempt to commit suicide how was Anna Harare’s any different? It is well worth noting that Sharmila launched her campaign in 2000 when the BJP was in power and is steadfast till date when Congress is ruling the roost in New Delhi. Though governments have changed, the blatant shrug of indifference has not as neither government has paid any heed to Sharmila’s pleas.

The case of Irom Sharmila may not directly concern many of the fellow Indians apart from our Manipuri brethren but taken in a broader perspective, we shall realize how deep we actually are in it. The rule of might is right is prevalent in India and one does not have to look far to see it.

Bihar which has emerged as a beacon of hope in recent times has a history of misuse of power as Babus or goons had a free hand in enforcing their will in the state. The situation at times got so bad that the very people of Bihar had to look for safe avenues outside their own state. This is just one of innumerable examples as the cases of misuse of power abound in our vast nation.

There are those who have justified the enforcement of the AFSPA in Manipur by stating that without it, militancy would simply engulf the already trouble torn state. Giving that argument the benefit of the doubt, let us take for granted that the AFSPA is, shall we say, ‘absolutely necessary in Manipur’. Let us assume that it is a tool in combating terror. However, owing to the powers vested in the security forces through this Act, there is ample scope for misuse of power. Considering the provision of the Act which largely enables security forces to use force, arrest, or shoot any suspicious person, without the hassles of an inquiry or legal persecution, it can be rightly stated that in Manipur, the mighty dominate the weak. Throw in a few bad apples into the mix and what we have is a volatile situation where highhandedness has led to a situation where the local people suffer the brunt of excesses perpetrated by their would be protectors. It has been argued time and again that the enforcement of the AFSPA in Manipur has led to a rise in militancy in Manipur as opposed to curbing it and this is a result of this highhandedness on the part of the security forces in dealing with SUSPECTED militants.

When the common man in India realises that he faces the atrocities of the powerful without even knowing it, then only will Irom Sharmila’s cause gather momentum. Only then will ridiculous statements of distinguished people such as “AFSPA is a necessity in Manipur and the army can not do without it” be silenced.

In fact the causes of Anna Hazare and Irom Sharmila are the same; the difference being that one is trying to sever the body of the snake while the other is trying to decapitate it. While Anna’s campaign is against corruption which is rampant in the country Sharmila is fighting endlessly against the gross misuse of power by authorities. Corruption and misuse of power are both perpetrated by the powerful. Power corrupts morals and absolute power destroys the soul. Crusaders who are fighting against this misuse of power must realize that to have a unified India mightier then the super powers of the world and more importantly a paradise for its citizens, they have to unite for each other’s causes. Ben Parker of Spiderman fame stated “With great power comes great responsibility’ but this has been nullified in our beloved India of today.

Irom Sharmila not being able to raise a nationwide movement is a shame not only for our Manipuri brethren but a failure of all Indian citizens who are yet to realize that unity in diversity should not be only in terms of language, culture and religious beliefs. We Indians are yet to realize what unity towards the solving of each others problems can do for a golden future of our country.

H. Jhunjhunwala