The continuous sit-in demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has witnessed a major wave of support from the Indian art and literary community as veteran Bollywood actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah publicly appealed to educational reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to bring his indefinite hunger strike to an end. The highly respected acting duo joined hands with prominent writer Arundhati Roy, economist Jayati Ghosh, and several notable academics to release a joint public statement expressing deep concern over the activist’s rapidly failing health. As the protest entered its twenty-fourth day and Wangchuk marked over two weeks without any food intake, the signatories saluted his immense sense of purpose, determination, and bravery in leading a critical national movement. However, they strongly insisted that the ongoing struggle for systematic reform is a marathon rather than a short sprint, emphasizing to the activist that the country needs his active presence, physical strength, and continued leadership in the difficult days that lie ahead.
The public appeal highlights the alarming physical toll the prolonged hunger strike has taken on the Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, who has been surviving purely on water since joining the fast in late June. According to clinical updates shared by the protest organizers, Sonam Wangchuk has lost over eight kilograms of body weight, with medical assessments revealing a highly fragile state characterized by plummeting blood sugar levels and low blood pressure. The joint statement from the public figures openly criticized the central government’s complete silence on the matter, warning that the administration’s negligence and refusal to respond to the protesters’ basic demands will only worsen the dangerous health conditions of the fasting individuals. The protest, organized in coordination with the Cockroach Janta Party, seeks the resignation of the Union Education Minister over controversial paper leaks in national examinations like the NEET-UG, alongside demanding financial compensation for the families of student aspirants who tragically died by suicide due to extreme academic pressure.
This emotional appeal from Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah comes shortly after other celebrated Bollywood actors, including Zeenat Aman, Omi Vaidya, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Abhay Deol, also voiced their solid backing for the movement. While Zeenat Aman has previously implored the government to uphold its constitutional obligation to meet peaceful demonstrations with open dialogue, Omi Vaidya released a viral social media video pleading with the public to save the real-life inspiration behind 3 Idiots’ popular character Phunsukh Wangdu. With the protest organizers preparing for their next major phase—a massive, peaceful march toward the Parliament building scheduled for July 20 to coincide with the start of the Monsoon Session—the collective voices from civil society and Bollywood continue to grow, pleading with Wangchuk to preserve his life so he can lead the long-term struggle for democratic and educational accountability.
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