Why India still turns to the hunger strike

Key Points:

• Potti Sriramulu's 58-day hunger strike in 1952 demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state led to his death and sparked widespread unrest, ultimately compelling Prime Minister Nehru to create Andhra state and initiate the linguistic reorganization of India.
• Hunger strikes have a deep-rooted tradition in India, influenced by religious practices and popularized politically by Mahatma Gandhi, who used fasting as a moral protest to awaken public conscience without coercion.
• Contemporary hunger strikes, such as Sonam Wangchuk's ongoing fast for education reforms, continue to draw public attention and government intervention, highlighting the enduring role of fasting in Indian political activism.
• While hunger strikes carry significant moral and political weight, they face criticism for potentially coercive effects and risks to health, with figures like BR Ambedkar advocating reliance on democratic processes over such protests in a constitutional democracy.
• The effectiveness of hunger strikes depends on public engagement and media coverage; historical examples show varied outcomes, from reshaping national boundaries to temporary political momentum or prolonged symbolic resistance.