She loves life !!

Social networking sites burgeoned on Women’s Day with ‘salutes’ and ‘respects’ towards mothers, sister and wives etc. What was further interesting to see, was that there were even some who thought it imperative to remember Malala, Irom Sharmila and the Delhi rape-case victim. Irom Sharmila having attented the court proceedings couple of days before, had made her even popular for such an occasion. It’s not that we have not respected women, or have not hailed them as epitome of peace, prosperity and bravery, but what is the concern of the present article is the image we attributed to women like Malala and Irom Sharmila.

We came on to the streets, demanding justice for the Delhi rape victim; there were even protests in solidarity with Malala and Sharmila. Where we saw the girl in Delhi rape case as a victim of rising violence towards women, Malala and Sharmila for us are the ones who have the courage to stand against oppression and injustice. We surely do not want the Delhi rape case to be repeated again, but wish there are more Malals and Irom Sharmilas. It is here that I ask why?

We stood together demanding security and justice for women, and would still be doing the same. This I feel, though is not easy but also not so difficult too, in purview of what Irom Sharmila and Malala are going through. To live like Sharmila and Malala is to waste a life. Malala was bedridden for weeks, Irom Sharmila is being force fed, her body organs have begun to degenerate irreversibly, her menstrual periods have halted. I for sure do not want more Malalas and Sharmilas. I do not want to see individual women standing against the whole State. I do not see it as bravery and regard it an act of heroism. I see it as cowardice on the part of our society that, we want Malala and Sharmila to stand against a whole system. Life is to enjoy, life is to live. I do not see Malala and Sharmila as living, they are merely surviving. There ‘survival’ is ‘life’ for us because we see hope in it. Behind the veneer of praising them is the hidden truth of our inaction.

It is time to end the hypocrisy we have been carrying since centuries towards women and the people from distant parts of the country. Why is it so that the people of Manipur an Kashmir are alone in demanding their right to live with dignity, why can’t we stand up for them. Until when will they be considered as ‘the other’?

Why don’t we also recognize the value of life and freedom for them? Does every village and city need a Tufail Mattoo and Manorama to be brutally killed to make us, the-deaf, hear?

 It is our responsibility to come forward and take up the cause of Irom Sharmila, for if the struggle of Sharmila fails, it would be the biggest failure of the democratic traditions of this country. No one else should stand for us; no one should waste his/her life.
Irom Sharmila herself said ,”I love life”.