Quick Info
| Profession | Social Activist |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Date of Birth | 07/04/1963 |
| Age | 63 years |
| Birthplace | Zanzibar (a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania in East Africa) |
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Bio/Wiki
| Desmond Coutinho is a British social activist and second-generation African who holds an EU passport. He is known for his cross-cultural marriage to Irom Sharmila, a civil rights activist from Manipur, India, under the Special Marriage Act. |
Personal Life
| Desmond and Irom Sharmila began their relationship through letters after he discovered her story in the book 'Burning Bright' by Deepti Priya Mehrotra. They met in person for the first time in Imphal on 9 March 2011, following a 36-hour fast by Desmond to secure permission to visit her. They married on 17 August 2017 in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|---|
| Marriage Date | 17/08/2017 |
| Marriage Place | Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu |
| Affairs/Girlfriends | Irom Sharmila |
| Wife | Irom Sharmila |
| Children | Nix Shakhi and Autumn Tara (twins) |
Family
| Spouse | Irom Sharmila |
|---|---|
| Children |
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Career
| Advocate for civil rights and cross-cultural understanding, particularly in supporting Irom Sharmila's activism in Manipur. |
Social Media
| https://www.linkedin.com/in/desmond-coutinho |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Desmond, a second-generation African, travels with an EU passport. | |
| 2. He developed feelings for Irom Sharmila without meeting her in person. | |
| 3. Desmond discovered Irom Sharmila through the book 'Burning Bright' by Deepti Priya Mehrotra, where her hardships deeply impacted him. | |
| 4. They began exchanging letters after Desmond initiated correspondence with Sharmila, sending tokens like a Radha-Krishna painting and a teddy bear. | |
| 5. In February 2011, Desmond met Irom Sharmila for the first time in Imphal, on 9 March 2011 to be precise. | |
| 6. An interview in The Telegraph that mentioned Sharmila's love for Coutinho caused a stir in Manipur. | |
| 7. Desmond went on a 36-hour fast to secure permission to meet Irom Sharmila, enduring two days without food before being granted a visit. | |
| 8. He emphasized his genuine feelings for Sharmila, stating that his care for her surpassed mere moral support. | |
| 9. Desmond and Irom Sharmila tied the knot on 17 August 2017 in Kodaikanal under the Special Marriage Act, residing together in Tamil Nadu. | |
| 10. Their family expanded on 12 May 2019 when Desmond became a father to twin girls, Nix Shakhi and Autumn Tara. |