Activist Irom Sharmila ties the knot with her British boyfriend in Kodaikanal
The couple exchanged garlands after their marriage was solemnized under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Kodaikanal: Attended by a small group of friends from activists circle and a large media contingent, Manipur rights activist Irom Sharmila (45) tied the nuptial knot with her British boyfriend Desmond Coutinho (55) here on Thursday and vowed to continue her struggle against injustice.
Documentary film maker K Divya Bharathi was on the side of the bride, holding a bouquet, when the marriage took place at the sub-registrar office in Kodaikanal here.
As the couple walked on a sunny morning to the sub-registrar's office from their house at Observatory area, 3.5 kilometres away, Irom Sharmila held the hands of Divya.
Yet, not many people in Kodaikanal recognized the couple who have been making news recently, after some persons raised objections to their getting married in Kodaikanal.
However, the sub-registrar, Mr. Radhakrishnan found their objections untenable and cleared the decked for their marriage. Family members of neither the bride nor the groom were present at the wedding in which Desmond Coutinho presented a ring to Sharmila.
The couple exchanged garlands after their marriage was solemnized under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Three locals of Kodaikanal stood witness to the historic wedding.