On day 18 of his hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk, the climate activist and engineer who has become the figurehead of anti-government protests in Delhi, appeared visibly weakened. Propped up against pillows and bolsters at Jantar Mantar, he whispered, “I’m sorry, but I’m unable to speak.” A physiotherapist massaged his aching joints as doctors warned that his body had entered a state of severe starvation, breaking down fat and muscle, leading to extreme weakness, impaired brain function, and electrolyte imbalance.
Court Orders Health Monitoring
On Thursday, as day 19 arrived, an Indian court ordered authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health. He has lost nearly 9kg from an already lean frame. Wangchuk, originally from the Himalayan region of Ladakh, is known for campaigning on the climate crisis but has now become the beating heart of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a protest movement demanding reform of India’s education system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The CJP was founded on 16 May by 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke after the chief justice of India called some unemployed youths “cockroaches.” Dipke embraced the tag, and the movement rapidly gained popularity, drawing students, senior citizens, academics, and parents furious with an education system that forces children to study 10-14 hours a day and have their futures determined by a single three-hour exam.
Two Million Students Affected by Exam Leak
The protests were sparked by the cancellation of a key nationwide medical college entrance exam in early May after a paper leak. Two million students were devastated, and a dozen reportedly killed themselves, unable to face retaking the test. Since 6 June, the CJP and its followers have camped at Jantar Mantar, a popular protest site in Delhi, with supporters bringing food, biscuits, bananas, and water in temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius.
No one in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has engaged with the protesters. CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka asked, “Why won’t they talk to us? Don’t they know they are servants of this country?” Opposition politician Anish Gawande lamented, “Ministers are sitting 100 metres away from Jantar Mantar and ignoring these voices. In a functioning democracy, a government listens to its people.”
Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike and Government Response
Wangchuk joined the protest on 28 June and began an indefinite hunger strike. He is no stranger to government action; last year, he was arrested in Ladakh on charges of inciting anti-government protests, jailed for 170 days, and then released without charges. Inspired by his example, several other protesters are also on hunger strike, with one hospitalized.
Atul Yadav, 27, from Azamgarh, has refused to eat for three days. “How can this government ignore honest, well-meaning young boys and girls?” he said. “I just had to come to give moral support to them and to Sonam sir.” Concern about Wangchuk’s condition is mounting. He cannot walk to the bathroom 30 metres away without support and speaks little to conserve energy. A useless fan by his mattress does nothing to relieve the suffocating humidity.
Calls to End the Fast
Despite his weakness, Wangchuk remains alert and refuses to allow plastic bottles on stage. He looks calm as crowds chant slogans supporting him and denouncing Pradhan. The weather—sweat pouring down faces, clothes drenched—adds to the tension. CJP organisers have been falling ill; lawyer Ratna Singh, who took time off to act as a spokesperson, said, “They go home for a couple of days to recover and then come back.”
Two doctors sent by the government and volunteers check Wangchuk’s vitals, heart, kidney, and liver functions throughout the day. Dr Nitin Dighe, a volunteer, noted that Wangchuk refused more than one fan because “everyone else is suffering from the heat, too.” In recent days, there have been calls for Wangchuk to end his fast. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted on X that he has already done enough to “awaken the conscience of the nation.” More than 1,800 prominent personalities released a letter saying it was pointless to continue given that “the government does not have a heart or a conscience,” adding, “This battle is a marathon not a sprint.”
Rally Planned for Parliament
If Wangchuk becomes critically ill, the government is likely to hospitalize and force-feed him. On Monday, the CJP called for a rally to march on parliament on the first day of the new session. By 9pm on Wednesday, people were still pouring through the yellow metal barricades at Jantar Mantar to see Wangchuk. After gesturing that he can’t speak much, he whispered, “Come for the rally on Monday. Come to show your support.”
