Aung San Suu Kyi, a frail and petite woman who lost her husband to cancer and didn't want to leave her country to see him because she feared that the military junta ruling the country would not allow her to return is someone who is a rarity these days. Her son's were denied visas to visit her and she hasn't seen them for 10 years. Not sure what the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) (official name for the Military Junta) had in mind but this time they did grant visa to her son.
For the past 15 of the 21 years she was confined to her dilapidated ancestral home with no access to internet or television. Her only companion was the radio and some magazines brought home by her lawyer. The mail she received was heavily censored. See article (http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article882318.ece)
Lesser mortals would have gone completely mad. Now Myanmar or erstwhile Burma doesn't register in our consciousness either because we are caught up with all sorts of other news related to terrorism, economics, recession etc.. but it does exist and so is the repression which is real.
Aung San could have easily compromised with the ruling military in exchange for her freedom and sharing power just like Benazir Bhutto but she treaded a lonely path which was not so rosy. There was an interesting article about comparison between these two women in the newspaper The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article886267.ece). Suu Ki could have chosen a comfortable lifestyle with her family in Britain but she chose to stay back.
That sometimes make me wonder where do people like Nelson Mandela or Aung San Suu Kyi draw their strength from. Is there a lesson in this for all of us?
Most of us are in the mad race in pursuit of money, career, fame and what not. We are all too preoccupied with mundane things of everyday life. We don't care about the nation as much as our selves.
Look at the current generation of politicians who want to make the most of it when they're in power. Their motto is "Self above nation"
Coming back to Aung San Suu Kyi, one never knows how long she is free but yes for the moment there is a glimmer of hope that one day people power will win in spite of all the hurdles. Someday I hope that and she and all the political prisoners who have been imprisoned by the military will realize the long cherished dream of freedom from tyranny and oppression.
(Image courtesy: http://www.theHindu.com)
