Sonam Wangchuk's Health Worsens After 19-Day Hunger Strike; Calls Grow for Him to End Fast
The activist has lost 9.1 kg during his hunger strike, prompting political leaders and supporters to urge him to end the fast amid growing health concerns.
Educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk has completed 19 days of his indefinite hunger strike, sparking growing concern over his rapidly declining health. According to his medical team, the 59-year-old has lost 9.1 kg while surviving only on salt water and is now experiencing severe weakness, muscle loss and difficulty standing without assistance.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a petition seeking urgent medical intervention, with the plea warning that Wangchuk's condition could become life-threatening without immediate treatment.
Wangchuk joined the protest in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is demanding sweeping education reforms. The group's primary demand is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him morally responsible for the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak that led to the examination's cancellation.
The government has so far not opened talks with the protesters. Pradhan has dismissed the CJP and its supporters as "the B-team of disruptive elements."
As Wangchuk's condition worsens, appeals for him to end his fast have poured in from across the political spectrum and civil society. More than 1,800 artists, writers, academics and activists have signed a joint statement urging him to stop the hunger strike, while leaders including Akhilesh Yadav and Shashi Tharoor have publicly requested that he preserve his health and continue his campaign through democratic platforms.
Veteran actor Zeenat Aman also appealed for dialogue between the government and the protesters, saying the nation should not allow "one of its greatest minds" to be sacrificed.
Despite the appeals, Wangchuk has remained firm, stating that he intends to take the movement "to its logical conclusion."
Doctors monitoring his health say he has moved beyond fat loss and is now losing muscle mass, warning that organ damage could follow if the fast continues.
Meanwhile, protesters have announced a day-long hunger strike on Thursday and plan to march to Parliament on 20 July, when the next parliamentary session begins.