From Potti Sriramulu to Sonam Wangchuk: Hunger strikes that changed India’s politics
This article from The Hindu examines six significant hunger strikes in India's post-independence history, highlighting how non-violent fasting has been a potent tool for political change. It begins with Mahatma Gandhi's fasts against British rule and communal violence, then moves to Potti Sriramulu's 58-day fast in 1952 demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state, which led to the creation of Andhra State and later the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. The article also covers Bhagat Singh's hunger strike for prisoner rights, M. Karunanidhi's 2009 fast demanding a ceasefire in Sri Lanka, and Jayalalithaa's 1993 fast for Cauvery water release. The piece is framed around the ongoing 2026 hunger strike by environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, who is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET exam irregularities and paper leaks. The article positions hunger strikes as a continuation of Gandhian satyagraha, capable of forcing immediate government action and shaping public discourse.
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