Sonam Wangchuk Revived the Power of Hunger Strikes?

Social activist Sonam Wangchuk has grabbed the attention of the public across the country and also made headlines in the global media after continuing his hunger strike relentlessly for more than two weeks despite his deteriorating health condition. He is hellbent on demanding the central government to take moral responsibility for the NEET failure and change the educational minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 

Protests with fasting until death as the main agenda are no longer in vogue in the modern society where politics and personal benefits take precedence over everything else. Not many individuals in recent years have taken up hunger strike for a social cause or a burning issue in India. Though political leaders occasionally announce hunger strikes, they give up by evening or the next day. 

But, Sonam Wangchuk appears to be defiant and unyielding in his pursuit. He embarked on indefinite strike in the last week of June as a mark of support to the mass protest led by Cockroach Party at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the ouster of Dharmendra Pradhan. 

The strike has now entered its 20th day and Sonam refuses to give up his mission. Slowly and steadily, his campaign started gaining huge traction as political leaders across party lines have extended support to his fast. Despite his condition turning from bad to worse, Sonam Wangchuk refuses to give up until the NDA government led by Modi takes a call on the demand. 

Leaders like Arvind Kejriwal have already come in support for his cause. Prominent persons from the famous farmers strike also expressed solidarity with Sonam. There are strong chances that many other leaders from the Opposition will back Sonam Wangchuk and corner the central government. 

Meanwhile, Sonam has publicly declared that he will stay alive until July 20 at all costs to lead a massive, peaceful march to the Parliament. “If our march doesn’t succeed… I’ll come back as a ghost!” he told a packed, roaring crowd today. The Delhi High Court has stepped in, ordering daily medical monitoring to ensure the preservation of his life. 

If the July 20 march to Parliament sees a massive, uncontrollable flow of citizens from across states, Modi’s government cannot simply continue silence. His hunger strike might not physically break a government, but the moral momentum it is slowly building with each passing has forced Modi and Co. to rethink its strategy.

If anything undesirable unfolds, the government will need to pay a huge price. The mishandling of the crucial NEET exam has already put it in defensive mode. So, they cannot simply observe in silence as Wangchuk’s health worsens and his support from public gets stronger. 

The next few days will determine how the government responds on this controversy.