New Delhi: Activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk on Monday said he is willing to end his indefinite hunger strike, but only if there is a meaningful response from the government or political leaders on the issues he has been raising for weeks.
In a handwritten note shared from Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, where he is undergoing treatement, Wangchuk said he would call off the fast if the Centre acknowledges responsibility for the concerns surrounding India’s education system or if political leaders publicly commit to taking up the matter in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session. He also urged authorities to remove what he described as restrictions on his movement, communication and interaction while he remains in hospital.
The announcement marks a significant development in a protest that has attracted widespread attention across the country. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28, demanding greater accountability and reforms in the education sector after a series of examination related controversies sparked public outrage.
His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, said leaders from different political parties have been requested to meet Wangchuk and assure him that the issues he has highlighted will be raised in Parliament. According to her, such a commitment could be enough for him to bring his fast to an end.
Support for Wangchuk’s protest has steadily grown over the past three weeks, with students, teachers, activists and several opposition leaders backing his demands. His hospitalisation and the circumstances under which he has remained there have also become a subject of political debate, with supporters questioning the restrictions imposed on him.
The timing of Wangchuk’s statement is significant, as Parliament’s Monsoon Session began on Monday. The opposition is expected to press the government on a range of issues, including education reforms and the handling of recent examination controversies.
As of Monday afternoon, there was no official response from the Centre to the conditions outlined by Wangchuk. Whether he ends his hunger strike later in the day will depend on the assurances he receives from the government or political representatives.
Known for his work in education, innovation and sustainable development, Wangchuk has long advocated peaceful and non-violent methods of protest. His latest campaign has once again brought the spotlight onto the need for transparency, accountability and lasting reforms in India’s education system.
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