Irom Chanu Sharmila known as the "Iron Lady of MANIPIUR Born 14 March 1972 (age 45) Kongpal, Imphal, Manipur, India Nationality Indian Occupation Civil rights activist, political activist, poet Known for Hunger strike against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act FAMOUS FOR HUNGER STRIKE Hunger strike: On 2 November 2000 to 9 August 2016-16 years of fasting. she has been called "the world's longest hunger striker". On International Women’s Day, 2014 she was voted the top woman icon of India by MSN Poll (Microsoft). Sharmila was awarded the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of the Indian Institute of Planning and Management. Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of conscience.