Like elsewhere in the country, Anna Hazare's hunger strike for a strong Lok Pal to rein in corruption has attracted youngsters in droves in the city.
So how many of them know about Irom Chanu Sharmila, the Iron Lady of Manipur who has been on a similar hunger strike for the past 11 years demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in North East India? The Act gives unbridled power to the armed forces, specially the Army in the North East.
Out of the ten youngsters The Hindu spoke to, only three have ever heard about her. Media observer and senior journalist K.M. Roy said it was testimony to the fact that the younger generation's support for Hazare' struggle was not an informed one but an emotional one.
“They are not aware of human rights violations happening across the country. The good thing is that they are at least thinking of some issue other than their own career and interests,” he said.
Afsal, a student of Maharaja's College, felt that it was the lack of corporate support that deprived the more intense battle of Sharmila the deserved prominence. He blamed the media for not giving importance to the Manipuri woman's struggle. “Once the media takes up the issue the people will lap it up,” Afsal says.
Krishnendu, a second year BA Political Science student, had no doubt that if she had not heard about Sharmila and her struggle it was because of the lack of proper coverage in the media. Neethu, a second year BA Economics student, however, had no such doubt for she had never heard about someone who had been on hunger strike for 11 years.
She was not alone and had company in Nasin and Jimmy, M.Sc. Zoology students at St. Albert's College, Jayakrishnan, a student of Sacred Heart's College, Thevara, and Jinu U.V, a freshly passed out engineering graduate. Chitra Jayakrishnan, working with ACS, chanced up on the tale of Sharmila only last week when she happened to read an article by Shoba De. “There's no doubt that her struggle has not received the public attention as it lacks the hype enjoyed by Hazare's struggle,” she said.
Rafeeque, a M.Sc. Biotechnology student at Al-Ameen College, felt Sharmila's struggle may not have captured the imagination of the people in the same way as Hazare's, as it was more for a regional cause.
But whatever be the cause, a struggle that continues over 11 years should be given its due, he said.
M.P. Praveen
sources : htt p://www.thehindu. com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2395159.ece
No comments:
Post a Comment