Youth protests have weakened Modi, Indian activist who went on hunger strike tells BBC

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike energized a youth movement, informed the BBC that recent youth-led protests have "terribly" weakened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Wangchuk, an education activist, stated that the national mood shifted after widespread demonstrations led to the education minister's resignation on July 25. The 59-year-old noted that young people now feel more empowered to "change things if they want to" and are less inclined to "take everything lying down."

The "cockroach" movement represented one of the most significant public expressions of dissent against Modi's government, which has been in power since 2014. The movement's name originated from a remark by India's chief justice, who faced criticism for comparing segments of unemployed youth to "cockroaches" during a court hearing.

Wangchuk undertook a 26-day fast in scorching heat in Delhi during June and July, consuming only salt and water. He reported regaining six of the 11kg he lost. For the final six days of his fast, the activist was forcibly hospitalized in facilities he described as "more like prisons."

By then, the protests had escalated from initial anger over leaked exam papers to some of India's largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned the day after Wangchuk concluded his hunger strike.

Since then, Modi has announced the establishment of fast-track courts for those accused in the leaks and appointed a tech billionaire to lead reforms of the examination system. The government also pledged compensation to families of students who committed suicide following exam question leaks.

However, India faces deeper issues, with graduate unemployment consistently around 35-40% for the past 25 years. Wangchuk advocates for fundamental education reform. The engineer and education specialist argues that current exams, often multiple-choice, have little relevance to the job market. He contends they are designed for efficient assessment of millions of students without effectively measuring skills and understanding, which in turn influences teaching methods.

Wangchuk suggests that if exams prioritized hands-on experience and aptitude, schools might adapt their approaches and help address India's jobs crisis. He emphasized the need for "some planning of what the world and the country are likely to look like in 15 years," to ensure children are "not left unemployed and sectors that need people are not left underemployed."

India's government has previously defended its economic management, asserting that claims of an unemployment crisis are exaggerated and its macroeconomic policy remains robust.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that many "Cockroach Janta Party" protesters continue to face repercussions, including court cases, police harassment, and social media abuse. This persists despite the Supreme Court's directive for authorities not to take coercive action against protesters facing charges who have no prior criminal record.

Despite these challenges, Wangchuk believes there has been "good progress" in recent days. He insists that change is imminent in India, believing the government was significantly harmed by the delay in Pradhan's resignation. "This gave young people a chance to gain confidence and unity in their actions," he said.

Wangchuk warned that if the government fails to heed the people, protests could extend beyond education. He pointed to the governing BJP's loss of two out of three by-elections this week, including a seat in Bihar state held for over 30 years, as evidence of the damage already being felt.

Nevertheless, he maintains that India's leaders could still alter their approach. "I always believe in people realising their mistakes and amending their ways. So I would give them that chance," he stated.

Twelve days after breaking his fast, Wangchuk is back in Leh, his hometown in Ladakh. He expressed renewed faith in the power of hunger strikes, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance. In previous years, he has undertaken hunger strikes for greater self-rule in Ladakh and against a "very powerful government" attempting to "bulldoze ecologically sensitive places." While these goals remain unachieved, he believes "inflicting pain on ourselves makes the government feel differently, compared to us using sticks and stones."

When asked about running for office, he declined, preferring to empower others to do so.