By C.M. Paul
New Delhi, July 16, 2026: At Jantar Mantar, India’s protest square, celebrated Ladakhi innovator Sonam Wangchuk lies in quiet defiance.
For 19 days he has refused food, choosing the Gandhian weapon of fast unto death to protest what he calls the “betrayal of India’s youth” in the examination paper leak scandal of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (NEET‑UG), India’s sole gateway to medical and dental colleges.
On July 16, the Delhi High Court directed authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health daily and provide medical aid if needed.
A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed: “Life of any citizen is precious and all efforts ought to be made by government authorities to save the same.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the federal and Delhi state government, concurred that Wangchuk’s condition must be regularly checked.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been protesting for over 25 days, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged exam irregularities.
Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28, choosing silence and abstinence over rallies and satire. His demands: the minister’s resignation and ₹10 million compensation for families of students who died by suicide.
Doctors warn of grave danger. He has lost nearly nine kilograms, his blood pressure has dropped, and his body shows strain. Yet Wangchuk insists: “Silence in the face of injustice is betrayal.”
Human cost of paper leaks
The NEET‑UG scandal has left a trail of tragedy. Reports from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal confirm that several aspirants took their own lives after learning of the alleged paper leaks.
For students who had spent years preparing, the revelations shattered their faith in the system.
“I studied day and night, but when I heard about the leak, I felt cheated,” recalls one survivor from Bihar, who attempted self‑harm but was saved by family intervention.
Wangchuk’s fast, many say, has become a beacon of hope for those who feel abandoned by institutions meant to protect them.
Sonam Wangchuk
Engineer, innovator, and education reformer, Wangchuk founded the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) and pioneered sustainable projects like the Ice Stupa.
A Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, he has long championed youth empowerment and ecological responsibility.
His vigil reflects his Gandhian philosophy of non‑violent resistance — personal sacrifice to awaken national conscience.
Echoes of Mahatma Gandhi
Wangchuk’s fast recalls Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha, where moral authority outweighed political power.
Observers also draw parallels with Anna Hazare’s 2011 India Against Corruption fast for a Lokpal Bill, which mobilized tens of thousands and reshaped Indian politics.
Wangchuk’s protest, however, is quieter and solitary, amplified by CJP’s satirical activism and solidarity from students and celebrities.
Voices of solidarity
Political leaders including Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, and Mahua Moitra have urged him to end the fast.
Opposition Congress MP Shashi Tharoor appealed for dialogue in parliament. Celebrities like actors Swara Bhaskar and Zeenat Aman have lent support.
For students, Wangchuk’s vigil is the loudest voice: “He is fasting for us. If he can risk his life, we must not give up our fight,” says a medical aspirant from West Bengal.
As courts hear pleas for medical intervention, Wangchuk’s vigil has become a test of conscience for government, judiciary, and society.
His frail figure at Jantar Mantar embodies a truth: when institutions falter, sometimes one man’s sacrifice can awaken a nation.
(Photo supplied by author)