Posted by Chinenye on Thu 16th Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
Pressure is mounting on Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his prolonged hunger strike as concerns grow over his worsening condition.
(Doctors check Wangchuk’s health parameters. Photo Credit: GistAfri.com)
Growing calls are emerging for Indian educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike amid mounting concern over his rapidly declining health.
The 59-year-old, who has survived on salt water for 19 days, has lost 9.1kg, with aides describing him as being in severe pain and unable to stand unaided.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court, hearing a petition urging urgent intervention, directed the government to regularly monitor Wangchuk's health and provide medical treatment where necessary.
Wangchuk has been protesting in support of an online satirical movement called the Cockroach Janta Party, CJP, which is pushing for educational reforms.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the cancellation of a key medical entrance exam in early May after a paper leak, arguing that he should take moral responsibility and step down.
Pradhan has dismissed the CJP and its supporters as disruptive elements, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has so far declined to engage with the protesters.
Widely known as "Sonam sir," Wangchuk is among Ladakh's most recognisable public figures and a household name across India, having earned international acclaim including the 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award, often described as Asia's Nobel Prize.
He inspired the hit 2009 Bollywood film Three Idiots and appeared as a celebrity guest on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2017.
His deteriorating condition has alarmed supporters, prompting appeals from opposition leaders, activists, Bollywood figures and musicians urging him to end his fast.
More than 1,800 artists, writers, academics and activists have signed a statement calling on him to stop, arguing that the government lacks compassion for his wellbeing.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said he had personally appealed to Wangchuk to break his fast, urging him to consider the plea in the public interest given the nation's need for his continued moral leadership, suggesting he recover before rejoining the movement later.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also appealed to him, saying he had already awakened the nation's conscience and that his voice remains vital for the road ahead, adding that with parliament resuming Monday, student issues could be raised through proper democratic channels rather than through a fast to the death.
Veteran actor Zeenat Aman called on the government to open dialogue on the matter, warning against becoming a society that stands by while one of its brightest minds is sacrificed.
Wangchuk has so far refused to end his fast, telling the BBC on Tuesday that he intends to see it through to its conclusion.
A video that circulated widely on Wednesday showed him being supported while walking, before he was seen clutching his leg in visible pain and having to sit down.
Against this backdrop, a petition was filed in the high court seeking to have him taken to a government hospital and force-fed to prevent his death, alleging that the government was treating him like a hardened criminal or threat to the nation rather than showing concern for his welfare.
On Thursday, the government told the court that doctors were monitoring his health regularly and that intervention would follow if his condition worsened, with the court stressing that every effort should be made to preserve the life of any citizen.
At Jantar Mantar, despite sweltering heat, crowds have continued to grow, with many expressing concern over Wangchuk's wellbeing.
College student Anshu Jha said she felt he was undertaking the fast on behalf of the public and their future, and worried she would feel responsible if anything happened to him.
Dr Satish Lamba, who examined Wangchuk, said he had already lost fat and was now losing muscle mass, warning that organ damage would be the next and most worrying stage.
The protest at Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory in the Indian capital, was initiated by the CJP under founder Abhijeet Dipke.
Wangchuk is not fasting alone, as several others, including student group members, have joined him, with one hospitalised earlier in the week after a sharp health decline.
The protesters have called for a day-long hunger strike on Thursday and plan to march to parliament on July 20, the day the next session begins.