Hong Kong, May 25 2010: Drawing inspiration from the non-violent protest of Ms Irom Sharmila of Manipur, a group of activists, artists, journalists, writers, academics, research scholars and students have organised a National campaign, the Hind Swaraj Peace March, in India.

The march is organised in support and solidarity of Sharmila's ten-year long fast, calling upon the State and non-State actors to end the culture of violence.

The march also demanded the withdrawal of the draconian law, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 .

The march started on May 8 from Cherthala, Kerala and will culminate at Imphal, Manipur on May 27 .

Cherthala incidentally is the constituency of AK Antony, the Union Defence Minister of India.

Along with staging the march the particpants staged plays and held public meetings in Bangalore, Chennai, Vijayawada, Pune, Bhopal, Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Itanagar.

Award winning writer and novelist Prof Sara Joseph and social activist Mr Civic Chandran, both from Kerala, are leading the march.

The march also marks the centenary of Hind Swaraj (Indian Home Rule), a movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in his effort to create a non-violent world.

The play performed in the Hind Swaraj Peace March named Meira Paibi (torchbearer women) highlights the women's movement for peace in Manipur.

In Manipur however the play had to be cancelled since the 17 member team could not enter the state owing to the road blockade organised by the Naga political groups.

Only 5 members were able to afford to reach Imphal by air.

An application filed by the Hind Swaraj Centenary Committee, including Prof.Sara and Chandran, requesting permission to meet Sharmila at the hospital room where she is detained by the state government, was not even accepted to records by the Chief Minister in complete contrast to what Sharmila represents.

The team however went to the hospital and talked to Sharmila without entering her room.

On 23 May, the Centenary Committee held a press conference in Imphal addressing the media about their journey and movement to strengthen Sharmila's non-violent protest.

In addition the Committee has spoken to thousands of people across the country about Sharmila and the issues in Manipur during the three week long journey from Kerala, including a press conference at Guwahati.

Speaking to a group of journalists, activists, students and academics in Guwahati, Prof.Sara said: "the choice before the post independence India in this critical historical juncture is between Maoist leader Mr.Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishanji and the iconic peace activist Irom Sharmila.

If we refuse to engage with Sharmila we will be forced to confront Kishanji" .

"Kishanji's way is the path of violence which the world has rejected many a times.

However Sharmila's is the path of non-violent people's struggle that has been successful in the past.

Which path should India and the civil society choose?" Prof.Sara added.

Adding to the discussion Chandran said: "Kishanji and Chidambaram are birds of the same feather.

However they represent different classes.

One seeks to uphold and the other seeks to gain power through violence; both are in an unholy alliance" .

"Maoists have become a pressure valve for the system.

The only choice before the oppressed classes is to embrace Sharmila's way of peaceful and democratic struggle�" Chandran added.

Prof.Sara said: "this peace march is to address the state and the civil society and tell both that they must engage in non-violence.

The solution to the threat faced by democracy is to have more democracy." Commenting on the issues in India's NE States Chandran said "India's northeastern states provide clear evidence of the internal colonisation with its manifest social, cultural and political dimensions" .

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