Irom Sharmila Breaks Fast: Will She Impact Mainstream Politics?

16 years ago, on November 2, 2000, a feisty woman named Irom Sharmila began a fast unto death after ten civilians were killed by the Assam Rifles at a bus stop near Imphal airport. Irom began a long, hard fight against the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act which gives sweeping powers to the army in Manipur and in Jammu and Kashmir, where too there has been a long standing demand for its revocation. So when days earlier Irom suddenly declared that she would end her fast and join mainstream politics, it came as a shock to many of her supporters. Today, Irom burst into tears as she licked some honey to break her fast. This is my life, she said, adding "I am not a Goddess, I want to be Chief Minister of Manipur to make a positive difference."