The 23-day hunger strike by student leaders at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has come to an end, but organisers say the campaign has entered “a new form”, shifting its focus from an indefinite fast to sustained public mobilisation, parliamentary engagement and demands for reforms in India’s education system.
The protest, which began on June 28 over alleged examination paper leaks, transparency in recruitment and accountability in public examinations, gradually evolved into a nationwide youth-led movement that drew students, teachers, civil society organisations and support from several opposition parties.
On July 18, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been observing a parallel indefinite fast in solidarity with the movement, was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after doctors warned of his deteriorating health, prompting the Delhi High Court to direct daily medical monitoring. Delhi Police and the Union government maintained that the hospitalisation was carried out solely on medical advice and in compliance with the court’s directions, while supporters alleged that he was removed from the protest site against his wishes.
Bringing their fast to a close after 23 days, the student leaders declared, “The struggle continues in new forms,” describing the end of the hunger strike as the beginning of a broader democratic movement rather than its conclusion.
The Union government has not accepted the movement’s key demands, including calls for greater accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, leaving the campaign’s future impact on policy uncertain.
A Protest Beyond One Person
What started as one activist’s indefinite fast soon became one of the country’s most widely discussed youth-led movements centred on education accountability. During the three-week protest, Wangchuk consistently maintained that the campaign was never about his personal sacrifice but about restoring public confidence in India’s education and recruitment systems.
As his health worsened, medical experts advised immediate hospitalisation, and the Delhi High Court directed that he be clinically monitored every day to safeguard his life. Acting on these recommendations, Delhi Police shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital, stating that the move was undertaken strictly on medical grounds and under judicial oversight.
Officials reiterated that protecting his health remained their priority and rejected allegations of political interference. However, supporters argued that Wangchuk had been forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar, describing the development as an attempt to weaken a peaceful democratic protest.
Despite ending the fast by the AISA leaders, the organisers insisted that the movement had only entered a new chapter. In a statement issued after the hunger strike concluded, they said, “The struggle continues in new forms as the 23-day hunger strike ends.
The movement achieves a leap forward in uniting the entire opposition and bringing the nation onto the streets. We will continue this fight together.” According to the organisers, the campaign would now focus on strengthening public participation, engaging with lawmakers and building sustained pressure for institutional reforms instead of relying on individual acts of protest.
This transition was also reflected in the decision of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke to end his own indefinite hunger strike, which he had launched after Wangchuk’s hospitalisation. Dipke said he was ending his fast at Wangchuk’s request, adding that the movement’s larger goals should take precedence over symbolic sacrifices by individual leaders.
Parliament Pressure Builds
In the days preceding Parliament’s Monsoon Session, Wangchuk repeatedly urged citizens not to appeal for the end of his fast but to join the planned march to Parliament, calling public participation “a real lesson in democracy”.
He stressed that the movement’s success would not be measured by the number of days he remained without food, but by the willingness of ordinary citizens to peacefully demand transparency, accountability and reforms.
Thousands of supporters gathered in Delhi despite heightened security measures and restrictions imposed across central parts of the city. Protesters raised concerns over alleged examination paper leaks, youth unemployment, delays in recruitment and the need for a more transparent education system.
Social media played a crucial role in amplifying the campaign, with videos from Jantar Mantar, hospital updates, speeches by Wangchuk and livestreams of the Parliament march circulating widely across X, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms. The digital campaign significantly expanded the movement’s reach, particularly among younger Indians, turning education governance into a widely discussed national issue.
The indefinite hunger strike was led by three All India Students’ Association (AISA) leaders—Neha, the organisation’s national president and a PhD scholar in Theatre and Performance Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); Aameen Amitoj, a PhD scholar in Urban Studies at Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi; and Manish Kumar, an AISA activist. The trio ended their 23-day fast at Jantar Mantar after a delegation of Opposition MPs, civil society members and prominent public figures urged them to continue the movement through Parliament and public campaigns.
The delegation included actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi and many other politicians as well. The leaders symbolically broke their fast by accepting fruit juice offered by members of the delegation, while reiterating that the protest would continue through nationwide mobilisation for education reforms and accountability over alleged examination irregularities as Sonam Wangchuk continues his fast.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s democracy has always drawn strength from peaceful civic participation and the ability of citizens to raise questions on issues that shape their future. Whether one agrees with the movement’s demands or not, concerns relating to education, examinations and public recruitment affect millions of young Indians and deserve transparent, evidence-based discussion.
Equally important is ensuring that the health, dignity and democratic rights of protesters are protected while public authorities fulfil their responsibility to maintain law and order with fairness and sensitivity. Sustainable reform is rarely achieved through confrontation alone; it requires dialogue between governments, institutions, educators, students and civil society, backed by accountability and mutual trust.
Also read: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke Ends Hunger Strike on Sonam Wangchuk’s Request, Joins ‘Chalo Sansad’ March
