Hindustan Times via Getty Images“I’m weak from the outside, but I’m strong from inside.”
That’s what a frail-looking Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a protest hunger strike in the Indian capital, Delhi, for the past 16 days, told the BBC on Monday.
According to the latest health bulletin released on Monday morning, Wangchuk “has lost 8.2kg [18lb], his blood pressure is 107 by 70 and his sugar levels are down to 67”.
His worsening health parameters are causing serious alarm among his supporters, with thousands appealing to him to end his fast.
The protest at Jantar Mantar – an 18th Century astronomical observatory and the capital’s best-known protest site – was started by an online satirical movement called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who are demanding educational reforms in India.
Led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP’s immediate demand is the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors was cancelled in early May following a paper leak.
The protesters say Pradhan must take moral responsibility for the leak and quit. Pradhan has refused to quit, dismissing CJP and its supporters as “the B-team of disruptive elements” who “do not have faith in the country’s progress”.
Wangchuk, an engineer, a respected educationist and climate activist from the remote Himalayan region of Ladakh, joined the protest on 29 June and began an indefinite hunger strike.
Describing himself as a follower of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, Wangchuk says he believes in his philosophy of non-violent protests and – just like Gandhi – is using hunger strike to awaken the conscience of the government.
Geeta Pandey/BBCPopularly known as “Sonam sir”, Wangchuk is one of Ladakh’s best-known public figures and a well-known name in India whose work has earned international recognition.
A mechanical engineer by training, Wangchuk also focused on finding ways to help Ladakh adapt to climate change.
He is best known for developing the “ice stupa” – an artificial cone-shaped glacier inspired by Buddhist stupas – that stores water during winter and releases it in late spring, when farmers need it most.
His work has earned him several honours – including the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018, often referred to as Asia’s highest honour.
He was the inspiration for Three Idiots, the 2009 superhit Bollywood film. And in 2017, he appeared as a celebrity guest on Kaun Banega Crorepati – the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, hosted by superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
Last year, Wangchuk was arrested in October with the government accusing him of inciting protests which he denied. He spent 170 days in prison after which the authorities dropped the charges against him and freed him.
Despite the soaring summer temperatures – Monday was 38C with weather apps putting the real feel at 46C – hundreds of people have been gathering at Jantar Mantar day and night in a show of solidarity to the CJP and Wangchuk.
Reuters“Today is the 16th day of his hunger strike and his blood sugar level and blood pressure have dropped and whenever he tries to sit or stand, he feels very dizzy,” Dipke told the BBC.
“He’s finding it difficult to even walk to the washroom. He’s really struggling. He’s in a lot of pain but whenever I try to tell him to end his hunger strike, he scolds me and says that ‘don’t you worry about me’.”
Dipke said doctors have told Wangchuk that it is not appropriate for him to continue, because there is serious concerns regarding his health. He added that he had also been receiving thousands of messages daily, requesting him to persuade Wangchuk to call off his fast.
“But he is still very determined to carry on. He’s said to me that he won’t stop until the government fixes accountability in the education system.”
At Jantar Mantar too, voices are growing louder for him to call off his fast, with many of those present telling the BBC that they were worried over Wangchuk’s deteriorating condition.
Among those who have come to see “Sonam sir” is Animesh Sahu, a 29-year-old engineer from Hyderabad.
“I’ve grown up watching his videos and I have an emotional connect with him. I’m feeling very concerned about his heath. The government must pay attention to him,” Sahu said.
A farmer, Satyaprakash Bharadwaj, described Wangchuk as “a diamond” who is “willing to sacrifice his life” for the younger generation. “I’m praying that he will call off his hunger strike. He can fight for our children only when he’s strong,” he said.
Educationist Prof Nandita Narain, says “it’s very sad that someone like Wangchuk, who has made such outstanding contribution to public life has to resort to a hunger strike to get the government to act”.
She said she would also appeal to Wangchuk to end his fast because “his life is in danger”.
“We have a battle to fight which will go on for much longer. We need a sustained protest and the movement has to be sustained. It’s important that he lives to fight the battle,” she said.
Hindustan Times via Getty ImagesSince Wangchuk’s fast began, many MPs from India’s major political parties, activists and social media influencers have visited the protest site to show support.
But no-one from India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “has yet visited us or expressed any interest in having a dialogue with us”, says Dipke.
“I don’t know why the government is so dismissive of the citizens of this country. We have been simply asking for accountability. We are not saying make us or Sonam Wangchuk the education minister. All we are asking for is to fix accountability and to change the person who has failed to conduct exams properly as an education minister.”
So if the government won’t come to them, the protesters have now announced plans to go to them – they will march to the parliament on 20 July, the day the next session starts.
“We have been sitting here for the last 24 days and Sonam sir has been on hunger strike for 16 days. Despite that, the government has not intervened, they have not even initiated a dialogue with us,” Dipke said.
“So we thought maybe it’s time to go to the government, go to the parliament of India and keep our demands there,” he added.
