Student grant in Sharmila name

New Delhi professor proposes fellowship

KHELEN THOKCHOM


Imphal, Feb. 7: Students coming to Delhi from states affected by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, may soon be able to receive a proposed fellowship in the name of human rights crusader Irom Sharmila.

Nandini Sunder, a sociology professor of Delhi School of Economics, has sought permission from Sharmila to institute a fellowship in her name for students coming to Delhi from states affected by the army act.

Sharmila told reporters during her routine appearance at an Imphal court today that she received a letter from Sunder a few days back. “A professor from Delhi sought my permission to institute a yearly fellowship of Rs 50,000 in my name for students coming to Delhi from states affected by AFSPA.”

The professor is expected to work out details of the fellowship like criteria and other details after receiving her reply. Sharmila, however, is yet to respond to the request and she did not give any reply during the news conference.

Sharmila also welcomed the nationwide weeklong campaign planned by National Alliance for People’s Movement from March 8 to 14 in her support.

She reaffirmed her stand of not receiving any award conferred on her. “What I want is not awards. I want more support. It is only a matter of time before I achieve my goal. I also want to live like a normal person. So those who want to confer awards on me can come to Imphal and stand beside me after my release from jail and before re-arrest,” Sharmila said.

The army act, almost a carbon copy of a British ordinance, is applicable to the whole of Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. The act was enforced in the then Naga hills for the first time in 1958 to contain Naga “hostiles”. Manipur was brought under the army act in 1980.Sharmila has been on fast since November 5, 2000, demanding repeal of the act, after 10 civilians were shot dead by Assam Rifles jawans at Malom in Imphal on November 1 of the same year.

She is likely to be freed on March 12 this year after completion of one-year jail for attempting to commit suicide. However, Sharmila is not prepared to end her fast even after coming out.

Human rights groups have welcomed the professor’s proposal. “We welcome the move and it is encouraging. Though the government turns a blind eye to Sharmila’s cause, more and more people are coming forward to support her,” Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert, Imphal, said.

Sharmila’s elder brother Irom Singhajit also welcomed the proposal. “I appreciate any effort to help students whether it is in the name of Sharmila or in any other way,” he said.