Student leader and Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha representative Devendra Nath Mahato ended his long-term indefinite hunger strike today at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. That came just after he had a direct conversation with the world’s leading environmental and social activist Sonam Wangchuk as reported by news media (ANI). The interaction was captured in a video that quickly went viral, and Wangchuk had pleaded to Mahato that he should focus on his health and physical well-being and make sure that our democratic movement continues to be sustained. On the phone, Mahato talked about their struggle as they were in Satyagraha since July 25 when he began his indefinite hunger strike on August 2 and after that they were not able to eat because they were exhausted and doctors warned him to be very safe.
From Mahato’s description of physical distress and the longstanding systemic problems in the region that have plagued the region’s recruitment examinations for the last two decades, Sonam Wangchuk strongly advised him against risking his life. Wangchuk commented that the extreme fast in such a situation was not productive; systemic changes take time and require a firm and thoughtful leader to lead supporters through the long-standing struggle. But even after Mahato ended his fast, the general protest movement of job-seeking job aspirants in Jharkhand grew at an explosive pace and the other people in Jharkhand were also stepping forward to continue the protest.
In the wake of Tuesday night’s developments, five more protesters, including two women, joined the movement and started their own indefinite hunger strikes at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Coming under the banner of the JPSC, JSSC Reforms Manch, their new group of fasting protesters took the total number of people on hunger strike to six and is now on the same track as the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha. For over a week the various factions and students have been holding firm to their core demands—to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission and to make major structural changes in the JPSC and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.
Also, the agitating groups are demanding a serious and transparent investigation of how the examination was conducted, which must be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation or by an independent panel composed of retired high court judges from outside the state. Jivan Kumar, the spokesperson of the JPSC, JSSC Reforms Manch, said that more people have since joined the campaign to bring the collective demands forward in advance of the upcoming Monsoon session of the State Assembly. Sabita Kumari, one of the female protesters taking part in the hunger strike, said that those who participated in such a campaign had to go to such extreme lengths because they had never been listened to by the administration. As the political tension grows, the organizing committees are soon to meet to come up with the next step of mobilization and will stage a statewide 'Tiranga March' to amplify the voices of job aspirants.
