Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto drank water in Ranchi after receiving a video-call appeal from activist Sonam Wangchuk [1, 2].
The interaction highlights the influence of high-profile activists on grassroots protests in India and the physical risks associated with extreme hunger strikes.
Mahto is a leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha [1, 2]. He had been conducting an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi, Jharkhand [2, 4]. During the protest, Mahto stopped consuming both food and water [1, 3].
Reports vary on the exact duration of the fast before the intervention. Some sources state Mahto had been without food or water for four days [1], while others report the duration was three days [2]. The appeal from Wangchuk occurred on the fourth day of the strike [2].
Wangchuk contacted Mahto via video call to urge him to drink water for health reasons [1, 2]. Following this personal request, Mahto drank water [1, 2]. Despite this concession for his physical well-being, Mahto said his indefinite hunger strike will continue [2].
The protest is part of a larger movement involving the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha. Mahto has been viewed by some as a counterpart to Wangchuk's style of activism in the region [4].
“Devendra Nath Mahto drank water after a video‑call appeal from Sonam Wangchuk”
The intervention by Sonam Wangchuk demonstrates how digital connectivity allows established activists to moderate the physical risks of hunger strikes without ending the political momentum of a protest. By separating the intake of water from the refusal of food, the protester can extend the duration of the demonstration while mitigating the immediate risk of organ failure or death.
