What was the longest hunger strike in history?

December 16, 2025 •

2 min read

Indian activist Irom Chanu Sharmila held the record for the world's longest hunger strike, fasting for 16 years from 2000 to 2016, a protest that was maintained through force-feeding. Her relentless stand became a globally recognized symbol of nonviolent resistance against a controversial law.

Quick Summary

The world's longest hunger strike was a 16-year protest by activist Irom Sharmila in India, sustained by force-feeding. The article details her struggle against a security law and compares her ordeal with other historically significant fasts.

Key Points

Irom Chanu Sharmila: Indian activist Irom Chanu Sharmila holds the record for the longest hunger strike, lasting 16 years against a controversial security law.
Sustained by Force-Feeding: Due to her repeated arrests, Sharmila's protest was maintained for over a decade through involuntary medical force-feeding.
The Cause: Her strike was a protest against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, sparked by the Malom Massacre.
Not a Fast: A hunger strike differs from a medically-supervised fast.
Terence MacSwiney: The 1920 hunger strike of Irish Republican Terence MacSwiney, who died after 74 days, is another famous historical example.
Potti Sreeramulu: His 56-day hunger strike in 1952 for a separate Telugu-speaking state in India led to his death and the creation of Andhra State.

The World Record: Irom Chanu Sharmila

The longest hunger strike in history was carried out by Indian civil rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, lasting approximately 16 years. Her protest began in November 2000 and concluded in August 2016, totaling 5,837 days. Unlike many hunger strikers, Sharmila's strike was sustained through involuntary force-feeding via a nasal tube.

The Cause and the Ordeal

Sharmila’s hunger strike protested the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA). The protest was triggered by the Malom Massacre in November 2000, where 10 civilians were killed. In response, Sharmila began her fast, vowing to abstain from food, drink, grooming, and looking in a mirror until AFSPA was repealed. She was repeatedly arrested under Indian law which criminalizes attempted suicide. For most of her strike, she was confined to a hospital room and force-fed through a nasal tube multiple times daily. Despite annual arrests and releases, she maintained her resolve.

Notable Historical Hunger Strikes

Beyond Irom Sharmila's record-breaking protest, several other historical hunger strikes hold significant importance.

Irish Republican Hunger Strikes

Hunger strikes were a significant tactic during Ireland's independence movement. Terence MacSwiney, the Lord Mayor of Cork, famously died after a 74-day hunger strike in a British prison in 1920. His death garnered international support for the Irish cause. Other Irish republican prisoners also undertook lengthy fasts during this period.

Mahatma Gandhi's Fasts

Mahatma Gandhi utilized strategic hunger strikes as a tool for political and social change in India. His fasts were typically shorter but impactful, used to mobilize support and pressure authorities. His longest recorded fast was 21 days. Gandhi's fasting was a moral form of protest, highlighting the power of nonviolent civil disobedience.

The California Prison Hunger Strike (2013)

In July 2013, thousands of California prisoners launched a hunger strike to protest long-term solitary confinement. This strike, the longest in the state's prison history, drew considerable attention to prison conditions. It concluded after 60 days when state lawmakers agreed to hold legislative hearings.

How Hunger Strikes Differ: A Comparison

Political hunger strikes may involve forced feeding.

Notable Hunger Strikes and Fasts

A table detailing notable hunger strikes and fasts can be found on {Link: Quora https://www.quora.com/Which-is-the-longest-hunger-strike-in-the-world}.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Test of Will

The longest hunger strike in history was Irom Chanu Sharmila's 16-year protest. The significance of a hunger strike is not solely measured by its duration but also by its moral and political impact. These acts of civil disobedience are a powerful form of resistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Irom Chanu Sharmila, often called the 'Iron Lady of Manipur', was an Indian civil rights activist who held the world's longest hunger strike for 16 years to protest the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

She was protesting the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) of 1958.

Irom Sharmila's hunger strike lasted for 16 years, from November 5, 2000, to August 9, 2016, for a total of 5,837 days.

She was repeatedly arrested and force-fed by medical personnel through a nasal tube.

Her strike did not result in the repeal of AFSPA, but it brought significant national and international attention to the human rights issues in Manipur. She ended her strike to pursue a different strategy by entering politics.

Terence MacSwiney was an Irish republican who died after a 74-day hunger strike in 1920 while protesting his imprisonment by the British.

The 2013 hunger strike by California prisoners was a protest against the use of prolonged solitary confinement. It lasted 60 days and ended after lawmakers promised hearings on the issue.