Irom Sharmila Chanu, commonly know as Sharmila or “the Iron Lady of Manipur,” appears outside of of Manipur High Court in Imphal, Manipur in India's North East to reaffirm her now 14 year fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. June 13, 2013.
The Malom Massacre memorial and the Malom bus stop (left), lay along National Highway 150, and is the site of the killing of 10 civilians by the 8th Assam Rifles an Indian para-military force, after the troops had been attacked the day before in Malom Village. June 22, 2013.
Funeral for David Sanasam, Manipur. February 7, 2012.
Babloo Loitongbam, is a human right activist, member of Sharmila's Just Peace Foundation and one of her earliest allies joining her campaign within a day of the start of the fast. His Relationship like many other who work with her has been strained over the last several years due to issue with her pen pal and boyfriend Desmond Coutinho, a British citizen.
Delhi High Court Officials gather the names of activists and protestors outside the court ahead of a scheduled court appearance by Irom Sharmila, that she did not make due to concerns for her health.
Sharmila takes a moment between journalists questions. She will often go quite and take her time when talking with anyone.
Irom Sharmila Chanu, commonly know as Sharmila or “the Iron Lady of Manipur,” waits to be transported back to the secure wing of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital (JNIMS) in a Imphal police van after appearing for her bi weekly hearing at the Manipur High Court in Imphal, Manipur in India's North East, to reaffirm her now 14 year fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, in-front of the court. Every 14 day Sharmila must reaffirm, in front of the court, her desire to continue her fast, and every 14 days the courts rule that she is attempting to commit suicide and is then remanded to the secure wing of JNIMS. June 13, 2013.
A Manipur Police Commando waits outside as Sharmila attends her bi-weekly court hearing in Imphal.
Irom Sharmila is led from the court to waiting media.
Sign board inside the Prison Wing of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital in Imphal.
Inside the room of Irom Sharmila Chanu is force fed a cocktail of medicines mixed with baby formula, through a feeding tube. It's estimated that it costs the government a minimum of 500 USD a week for her medicine and baby formula alone. December 17, 2013.
Irom Sharmila sits within her room at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital in Imphal.
Sharmila, is guided into the Manipur High Court in Imphal by her guards, Manipur, India. December 19, 2013.
A single reporter comes to speak with Sharmila about a statue of her that a group of artists were proposing to sculpt. Sharmila responded, negatively to the idea, I'am still alive, I'am still here".
Press looking for a comment on a recent election.
Her long time lawyer, Khaidem Mani, center, walks with the government prosecutor and her daughter, left, into court.
Going back to her room.
Inside the secure wing of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital (JNIMS) where Irom Sharmila Chanu has spent the better part of her last 14 years in prison, in Imphal, Manipur, India. October 16, 2013.
The vigil is constant just beyond the walls of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, where a group of women take turns keeping a presence at the hut that is used one night a year to house Sharmila before she is rearrested on a charge of attempt to take her own life.
Activists sit in a small shed built to house the supporters of Irom Sharmila, when they symbolically fast for a few hours alongside her, and to house her when she is release once a year.
Irom Sharmila's brother and member of Sharmila's trust the Justice Peace Foundation, Irom Singhijit (right) speaks with local media after the Manipur government rescinded access by media persons to Sharmila during her foundations meeting, where she planned to break ties with the organization. October 16, 2013.
Police wait outside her court appearance.
Irom Sharmila released for the night.
Closing her eyes, Irom Sharmila tries to block out the activists and media that surround her. She has come to find some comfort in isolation, when released, she seems overwhelmed, wanting to be alone, wanting to see her mother, wanting to see her boyfriend, but all of this unlikely.