'I Am Still Alive': Indian Activist Sonam Wangchuk Loses 11kg After 26 Days of Hunger Strike in Delhi
NEW DELHI — Prominent Indian environmentalist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk has entered the 26th day of his indefinite hunger strike in the national capital, reporting a weight loss of 11 kilograms (24.2 pounds) since the fast began. Despite his rapidly deteriorating physical condition, the 58-year-old activist released a video message to reassure his followers, stating simply, "I am still alive." Wangchuk has emerged as the central figure and main draw at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Delhi, which has gathered diverse civil society groups demanding constitutional safeguards for the ecologically sensitive region of Ladakh.
The hunger strike is the culmination of a month-long, 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) march undertaken by Wangchuk and dozens of volunteers who walked from Leh, the capital of Ladakh, to New Delhi. The protesters are demanding that Ladakh be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which provides autonomy to tribal-dominated areas to establish laws protecting their land, culture, and natural resources. Additionally, the movement is calling for full statehood for Ladakh, which was designated a Union Territory governed directly by New Delhi following the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
Medical teams monitoring Wangchuk at the protest site have raised serious concerns about his vital signs, warning of potential long-term damage to his kidneys and cardiovascular system due to prolonged starvation. Despite these severe health risks, Wangchuk and his supporters remain resolute. Supporters at the CJP protest site have accused the federal government of turning a blind eye to the peaceful demonstration, pointing out that multiple requests for a high-level meeting with President Droupadi Murmu or Prime Minister Narendra Modi have yet to yield a concrete response.
The standoff comes amid growing concerns over environmental degradation in the Himalayan region. Activists argue that without constitutional protections, Ladakh’s fragile glaciers and indigenous lands are highly vulnerable to unregulated industrial exploitation, mining, and commercial tourism. While the federal Ministry of Home Affairs has previously held several rounds of talks with Ladakh representatives, negotiations stalled earlier this year. As Wangchuk’s fast crosses the three-week mark, pressure is mounting on authorities to resume dialogue and avert a worsening humanitarian and political crisis in the capital.