Did You Know… The Longest Hunger Strike Lasted Nearly 16 Years and Was Done by the “Iron Lady of…
Many of us struggle to follow a diet for 16 days. She remained committed to her cause for almost 16 years!
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Did You Know… The Longest Hunger Strike Lasted Nearly 16 Years and Was Done by the “Iron Lady of Manipur”?
Many of us struggle to follow a diet for 16 days. She remained committed to her cause for almost 16 years!
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Wait… Did You Say 16 Years? 😲
Yes, you read that correctly!
Most of us start feeling hungry if lunch is delayed by just one hour. By 2:00 p.m., we may start checking the kitchen every five minutes.
“Is there anything to eat?” “Who finished the biscuits?” “Should I order something?”
But imagine continuing a hunger strike for nearly 16 years!
That is exactly what **Irom Chanu Sharmila from Manipur, India, did. Because of her incredible courage and determination, she became popularly known as the “Iron Lady of Manipur.”**
Why Did She Start the Hunger Strike?
Irom Sharmila began her hunger strike on 5 November 2000.
She was protesting against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, commonly known as AFSPA, in Manipur.
Her protest was peaceful, but her message was powerful. She wanted change, and instead of using anger or violence, she chose silence, patience, and extraordinary determination.
And no, this was not one of those: “I am not eating dinner because I am angry!”
This was a serious protest that continued year after year.
How Did She Survive for So Long?
Now you may be wondering: “Wait! How can anyone survive without food for 16 years?”
Good question!
During this period, Irom Sharmila was kept alive through **nasogastric force-feeding**.
In simple words, nutrients were given to her through a tube connected to her nose.
So, she did receive nutrition. It was not 16 years without any food or nourishment at all.
Still, continuing such a protest for nearly 16 years required a level of mental strength that is difficult to imagine.
Many of us struggle to follow a diet for 16 days. She remained committed to her cause for almost 16 years!
The Day the Historic Fast Ended
On 9 August 2016, Irom Sharmila finally ended her hunger strike.
She tasted a little honey and became emotional.
Just imagine — a tiny drop of honey ending one of the longest and most extraordinary hunger strikes in modern history.
Her protest may have ended, but her story continues to remind the world that sometimes the strongest voice does not shout.
Sometimes, it quietly refuses to give up.
Now that is why she truly deserves the name:
The Iron Lady of Manipur. 💪
Reference
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Sneha Ghosh / Jasmine Aguilar / Monika / Minakshi Jha / Lee Byrd / Mary Writes / Sophia Chanu / Anhad Sandhu / Smriti Pathak / Ravindra Kumar Karnani / Sunita Chakraborty / Parvathi J / Vinod Bhardwaj / Maithilee Singh / Dr. Beenish Shakeel / Rajesh Poovathum Kadavil / Pervin Shaikh / Sushmita Chakraborty / ***Annelise Lords / [Dr. P. K. Roy](2) / [Author Peter, MBA ,LL.M](2)*** / Anchal Bhuyan / Vishnupriya Ravi Paranjape / B. S. Aishwarya Valli / Swati Sarangi / Priyanshu Jha / Soumya Viswanathan / Saksham Mundra / Revanth Goud / Ishita Tiwari / Vishnu Kumawat / Ekrash / Dr Radha Narayanan / Anupama Pandey / Supriya / ShubhamAgrawal
Philip S. Naudus / Aria Stella / Olivia Pope / Kehinde Margret Makinde {The Eclectic Writer} / 🌸Preeti Pathak🌸 / Eshwari Reddy / Hooria Akbar / Yana Bostongirl / Jasmine Aguilar / Monika / Minakshi Jha / Lee Byrd / Mary Writes / Sophia Chanu / Anhad Sandhu / Smriti Pathak / Ravindra Kumar Karnani / Sunita Chakraborty / Parvathi J / Ripton Green / Vinod Bhardwaj / Cosmic Wonders / Maithilee Singh / Arshi Naaz / Elizabeth Woods / Dr. Beenish Shakeel / Rajesh Poovathum Kadavil / Pervin Shaikh / Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD /
Annelise Lords / MayhemCode / Geets / Sofia K / Krgoswami / Dr. P. K. Roy / Author Peter, MBA ,LL.M / Swaminathan Murali / Brahmandam Chakra Pani / Dr Vijayalakshmi Aluri / Words of Purpose / Nancy S Rust / Lynn L. Alexander / Michael John Scott / Dr Mehmet Yildiz / ❤️ Samurai Sam ❤️ Wild Wayne ❤️ / 🌬️Mitch / Sushmita Chakraborty
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