Irom Sharmila (b:1972) is a poet, activist and considered as an Iron lady of Manipur. She is best known for her extraordinary 16 year long hunger-strike against Armed Forces Act (AFSPA) prevailed in conflict-affected regions. She actually began her protest in 2000 after the Malom Massacre in Manipur. Her poetry is deeply personal yet universal resonating with themes of resistance, sacrifice and hope.
Irom Sharmila's 'Fragrance of Peace', written in 'Meitei' and translated into English by Tayenjam Bijoykumar Singh, echoes her unwavering faith in non violence and the transformative power of peace. The poem begins with Iron Sharmila's expressing her wish that after her death, her body should be buried in the 'Sacred Peak of Father Koubru'. Koubru is a place of spiritual and cultural significance in Manipur. It shows her desire to remain a part of her home land.
Moreover, Sharmila rejects the conventional use of axe and fire for cremating her body. Instead she wants her body to rot under the ground and get transformed into ore within the mines. She needs her body to decompose naturally and to merge with the earth. This powerful imagery suggests renewal and continuity. This shows her belief in sacrifice.
Then Irom Sharmila concludes her poem saying that she will spread the fragrance of peace from Kanglei (Manipur), her birth place in the ages to come to every corner of the world. Through this metaphor, she says that, 'Fragrance of Peace' is far-reaching and so it will permeate throughout the world. Her omitting capital letters in the poem reflects Sharmila's resistance to hierarchy and authority. Thus, this poem extends her activism and proves that her voice will continue to inspire the future generations.
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