Oddity Central |
- Indian Woman Has Been on a Hunger Strike for the Last 12 Years
- Amazing Artist Draws with Both Hands at the Same Time
- Patrick Brysbaert – Probably the World’s Most Eccentric Lawyer
| Indian Woman Has Been on a Hunger Strike for the Last 12 Years Posted: 11 May 2012 05:13 AM PDT
When someone famous, like the former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, goes on a hunger strike, the whole world knows about it, but Irom Sharmila Chanu, an ordinary woman from India, has been on a political fast for the last 12 years, and hardly anyone even knows she exists. Irom Sharmila Chanu, also known as the Iron Lady of Manipur, went on a hunger strike on November 4, 2000 in an effort to have the Government of India withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur and other parts of India. This draconian act practically gives the military the power to do as they wish, as it prohibits any legal or judicial proceedings against army personnel without the previous sanction of the Central Government. It has taken away the people’s right to protest against atrocities or engage in any lawful democratic activity. Simple civilians can easily be labeled as ‘terrorists’ or ‘suspects’ and taken into custody. According to official figures, 25,000 people have been killed in Manipur alone, since this Act came into force, in 1980. Back then, there were only four insurgent groups in the area, now there are 25 on the army’s watch list. Photo: Youth Ki Awaaz Sharmila had joined the anti-AFSPA movement just two weeks before she began her long-term hunger strike. She was a volunteer in the workshops and discussions organized by Justice H Suresh, who went around India listening to tales of violence from victims. The 28-year-old woman was particularly impressed by the story of a young girl who had been raped by security forces at Lamden village. On November 1st, 2000, a group of insurgents bombed an army column, and the military retaliated by gunning down 10 civilians at a bus station in Malom. The young activist could not bare to see the blood spilled on the street in what is now remembered as the Malom Massacre, so she went and asked her mother for permission 'to do something for the people'. So on November 4, she returned to the site of the blood bath and announced her intention to fast until death or untill AFSPA forces withdraw. Photo: Indian Muslim Observer "I was shocked to see the dead bodies. There was no means to stop further violations by the armed forces…. It (fast) is the most effective way because it is based on a spiritual fight… My fast is on behalf of the people of Manipur. This is not a personal battle, it is symbolic. It is a symbol of truth, love and peace", Irom Sharmila Chanu says. After just three days of fasting, the police arrested Chanu for attempted suicide, which is punishable according to Indian Penal Code. The administration started force-feeding her via nasal tubes and confined her to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Imphal. Because the maximum sentence for an ‘attempt to suicide’ cannot exceed one year, Irom Sharmila Chanu is released on completion of one year, and re-arrested after 2-3 days, on the same charges. This has been going on for the last 12 years. Photo: Silchar Chronicles The Iron Lady of Manipur hasn’t eaten a single bite, or drung a drop of water since her 12-year hunger strike began. She also hasn’t combed her hair, or looked in the mirror, and only cleans her teeth with a dry piece of cotton. Authorities have been force-feeding her nasally for over a decade, but she tries to remove the tubes every chance she gets. As you can imagine, this kind of long-term nasal diet has been taking a heavy toll on Chanu’s health. According to a 2006 BBC report ‘doctors say her fasting is now having a direct impact on her body's normal functioning – her bones have become brittle and she has developed other medical problems too. "
Indian authorities don’t seem at all intimidated by the plight of Irom Sharmila Chanu, but the activist certainly has lost a lot during her 12-year hunger strike. Apart from medical complications, she has had to witness her family’s bankruptcy, her brother losing a job because he chose to support her, and hasn’t seen her mother since 2000. With tears in her eyes, Irom Sakhi, Sharmila’s mother, told a correspondent "it is just possible that my getting emotional on seeing her may weaken her resolve. And I do not want that my daughter lose in this battle, which is for the betterment of humanity." Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Laureate and human rights activist, has also supported Sharmila's cause and said to a group of journalists : "If Sharmila dies, Parliament is directly responsible. If she dies, courts and judiciary are responsible, the military is responsible… If she dies, the executive, the PM and President are responsible for doing nothing… If she dies, each one of you journalists is responsible because you did not do your duty…"
But the Indian Government doesn’t seem impressed, and in 2004, the defense minister said it is impossible to repeal the Act, because the military can’t function properly without the powers it provides. Meanwhile, Irom Sharmila Chanu continues the longest political protest in history… Sources: Youth Ki Awaaz, Wikipedia Indian Woman Has Been on a Hunger Strike for the Last 12 Years was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
| Amazing Artist Draws with Both Hands at the Same Time Posted: 11 May 2012 02:50 AM PDT
Xiaonan Sun has become a YouTube sensation after a video of him drawing the portraits of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins with both hands, at the same time, went viral. It’s definitely one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Let’s face it, YouTube is full of videos of talented artists drawing realistic portraits of celebrities, and Xiaonan Sun was just one of them, until he posted a unique video of him drawing a tribute to Shawshank Redemption, one of his favorite movies of all time. The portraits of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins look pretty impressive, but what really makes them special is the artist did them at the same time, with both hands. Most people can barely draw with their main hand, and here is this guy in his 20s who can do it just as well with both, and at the same time. I know I’m repeating myself here, but this is just insane. And if you still don’t think what Xiaonan does is impressive, you should know he is also self-taught. The guy actually went to business school and only realized he wanted to study art in his senior year. So he bought an expensive painting kit, but even though he enjoyed painting, the expensive materials and messy oil paints made him turn his attention to charcoal. He would always doodle during classes, in college, without realizing he was actually practicing for an artistic career. The talented young artist then saw someone do a time-lapse drawing video on YouTube and thought it was a great idea, so he started doing his own.
During an interview with Tom Clocker, of Examiner.com, Xiaonan Sun said he usually takes 2-3 hours to complete his detailed portraits, whether they are done with one hand or two. Although he works a little slower on ambidextrous portraits, it doesn’t take him twice as long as a single figure, because he’s working with both hands.
He hasn’t yet sold any of his portraits to actual celebrities, he was contacted by Ripley’s Believe It or Not to have his Shawshank simultaneous two-handed drawing and video displayed in their odditorium. Check out his official website for more great artworks. Amazing Artist Draws with Both Hands at the Same Time was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
| Patrick Brysbaert – Probably the World’s Most Eccentric Lawyer Posted: 11 May 2012 02:15 AM PDT
Lawyers usually sport classic hairstyles, slick suits and expensive cars, but not Patrick Brysbaert. His Mohawk hairdo, multiple face piercings and leather pants make him probably the most eccentric lawyer in the world. “Lawyers should dare to show what is under their robes. We represent the whole society, so even people who are a little different, like me”, Brysbaert says. Twenty years ago he looked like just another lawyer – he had short hair, always wore a classic suit and drove a boring Saab to work. Then, after he broke up with his partner, Patrick decided to quit his profession and started operating a cafe in Antwerp, Belgium. During this period of “true liberation” the former legal worker got a full back tattoo, an erotic drawing on his shoulder, had various parts of his face pierced and changed his hairstyle to a Mohawk. Finally, he was himself. Photo: Vandaag But while he was happy to show the world who he really was, he missed his legal profession. So ten years ago, he went back to being a lawyer, with trembling knees. The 54-year-old says it was the hardest thing he has ever done, even harder than admitting he was a homosexual. He had went from being a slick lawyer to a straight punk, so you can imagine everyone’s expressions when they saw him walking back into the courthouse. But he learned to accept his colleagues talking about his appearance behind his back, and his clients didn’t really care what he looked like as long as he got the job done. Brysbaert says his clientele consist of all kinds of people and they all appreciate him for his experience. Once, during a case, the judge told him piercings don’t belong in the legal system, and Patrick feared his looks would influence his judgement. He was wrong, and is now convinced judges do what they are supposed to, review the legal content, not the appearance of the pleader. Photo: 7Sur7 Patrick Brysbaert says he doesn’t want to shock people, and that appearance is not important to him. He just wants to be himself and thinks more of his colleagues should follow suit. The eccentric lawyer believes he is paving the way for other people to follow his example and is confident this will happen, little by little. He feels because lawyers represent the whole society, they should show what they are really like underneath their court robes. Photo: Vincent Callot So would you have any problems being represented in court by someone who looks like Patrick Brysbaert? via Nieuwsblad.be Patrick Brysbaert – Probably the World’s Most Eccentric Lawyer was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
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