Title: Mother, Where’s My Country?
Author: Anubha Bhonsle
Publisher: Speaking Tree
ISBN:
9789385288357
Genre: Non-Fiction, Reportage
Pages: 250
Rating: 5/5
INTRO
“I love life. If I really wanted to
die, there is a fan, ropes, clothes that can tie myself with. Why would I do
this? If AFSPA is repealed I will take food. It is as simple as that.”
These words of Sharmila, are basically
the theme of this book. Anyway for a while keep away this thought that you are
reading some book review and just imagine, your nervous system suddenly stopped
identifying one of your organ, I don’t think I have to explain what you would
have suffered in that given condition… that’s what happening with Manipur, and North-east
states of India. And I must say author of this book, Anubha Bhonsle took a
major step to explore that unknown land and lives, and present in front of us,
make us aware about the exact situation of our so called progressive INDIA.
“Mother, Where’s My Country” is not
only a book with reports of some unconcerned state but It is an intense effort
of a lady, a responsible Indian, a person with soul before anything else. Anubha
Bhonsle, spent her 8 years amidst these people who have been just breathing
without knowing the exact definition of life.
“Like ‘self curfew’, this term was
their invention for the hostile vibes they felt on the street every time a
gun-wielding security person looked at them.”
Frankly speaking When I started the
book I have to read first chapter twice.. Just to absorb the fact that pain….spilling
on the few pages. I don’t even imagine how those people has been survived,
besides this how that brave lady Anubha Bhonsle could explore their painful lives
and inked it, honestly she tried to draw attention towards the reality of AFSPA.
IN HER OWN WORDS
When I first started exploring life
in Manipur, I wanted to understand the notion of despair here because of the
existence of what’s called the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Since
1980, the act has given security forces unbridled powers—including the
authority to arrest and shoot a citizen on mere suspicion and to search
property without a warrant. It also protects soldiers from trial and punishment
without the sanction of the central government.
The story
captures life in a state where midnight raids by security forces are not
unusual, although they occur now less frequently than they used to. Children
walk to school amid guns while “What to do if you are raped” booklets circulate
in markets.
Over the past nine years, I have conducted close to 200 interviews, scrutinized dozens of documents and court testimonies, revisited places and people, and repeated numerous questions. The excerpt here relies on exhaustive interviews conducted over days with two women, whose identities I have protected. These women have broken their silence; we are their witnesses.
NARRATION
Although this would not be an easy
read, filled with related reporting, documentation of tribal lives, but Anubha
didn’t forget to make it alive by adding some real factors…her experiences, stony-hearted
stories of the victims.
She says the book springs from
"reflections and notes from my reportage and fieldwork" spread over
nine years. This includes two hundred interviews and dozens of documents and
court testimonies. In her words, "My goal has been to describe the stories
and silences of people I met and spoke to truthfully and honestly."
CORE
When I started the book I thought it
was only Sharmila’s biography perhaps… but here Author explored and triggered
more brave characters and their perspective for instance Rape and Murdur of
Thangjam Manorama, Imas and their “naked protest”, debate about AFSPA BILL (1958)
in lok sabha and views of leaders. Anubha also mentioned about the
Sinam Chandramani’s poignant case, a boy once got awarded for his bravery,
couldn’t avoid the pangs of random fire by Assam Rifles jawans. Plus, she put some light of Irom Sharmila
Chanu’s life in a broader way.
"She wasn’t a big girl, she’d never
been in a fight, she avoided confrontation, or even complaint for that matter,
She never seemed heroic, she wasn’t good at sports and not much could be said
about her grades, she was just Sharmila, lanky, perhaps a little boyish, and
inclined to be just herself and by herself."
"Here was a woman infinitely
comfortable in her own skin, comfortable in her tapering fingers that ended in
long, broken nails, the delicate slope of her shoulder, her boney cheeks,
unkempt hair, her black brown eyes, sensual mouth. Without the nasal tube and
behind strong profile in photographs, she was an ordinary person, sensitive,
easily hurt."
"Sharmila, would sometimes remove the
tube attached to her nose, turn to her side and read. Or simply mumble and moan
in a slow halting voice, a voice that rarely betrayed any sense of urgency or
discomfort."
Overall, it is mirror for the government and every Indian. A powerful attempt by Anubha Bhonsle. MUST READ !
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anubha Bhonsle is an award winning
journalist based in Delhi, where she is Executive Editor with CNN-IBN. She has
reported extensively on politics, gender, human rights and the armed forces.
Over the last ten years much of her reportage has concentrated on the impact of
long-standing conflict. She has reported from Jammu and Kashmir and the North
East of India,especially Manipur.
Anubha is a recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Award for her reportage on the funding of political parties. She is also a Hubert H. Humphrey/Fulbright Fellow 2015-16. In 2014 she was given the Chameli Devi Award for her body of work. The Jury at the New York Film Festival has commended her documentaries on Irom Sharmila and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
