nustabet gaming Farmer Leader Dallewal's Fast Nears 50 Days | A Look At India's Most Notable Hunger Strikes
Farmer Leader Dallewalnustabet gaming's Fast Nears 50 Days| Photo: PTI Farmer Leader Dallewal's Fast Nears 50 Days| Photo: PTI As the hunger strike of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal nears 50 days, the Supreme Court is set to hear the case regarding medical aid for the farmer leader on January 15, 2025.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh is scheduled to hear the plea filed on behalf of Dallewal. With Dallewal on hunger strike, the farmer leader's fast-unto-death is on the path to becoming one of the longest in Indian history.
With its roots in Irish history, fast-unto-death has been a method of protest across the globe, especially in India due to leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh.
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During India's freedom struggle. Gandhi described fasts as "a great weapon in the armoury of Satygraha," and proceeded to go on hunger strikes at least 20 times.
His longest was in 1943 when he was on fast for 21 days against his detention during the Quit India Movement.
However, even after independence, the fasting method was used during various protests.
Notable Hunger Strikes In Indian History Bhagat SinghBhagat Singh was a renowned freedom fighter who staged a long hunger strike in 1929 during his time in Lahore jail to protest against the treatment of political prisoners.
Singh ended his strike of 116 days after a request from his father and the Congress party offered a resolution to improve the treatment of prisoners.
Potti SriramuluIndependent India saw its first notable hunger strike in 1952 when Potti Sriramulu announced a fast-unto-death over his demand for a separate state of Andhra Pradesh. Sriramulu was on strike for 58 days. His fast triggered violent protests across Madras and ultimately resulted in the creation of Andhra Pradesh.
Sriramulu died on December 15, 1952,days before then-PM Jawaharlal Nehru announced the creation of an independent Andhra state.
Irom SharmilaIrom Sharmila, popularly known as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur' went on an indefinite hunger strike against the killing of 10 civilians by 8th Assam Rifles in Manipur and later for the abolishment of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Sharmila was arrested three days after she began her fast "for attempting suicide" and remained in police custody for 16 years. The activist was force-fed through a nose tube despite her maintaining her fast unto death.
She ended her fast in 2016 but was unable to reach her goal of abolishing AFSPA.
Darshan Singh PherumanPheruman was a Sikh leader who fasted to death over the inclusion of Punjabi-speaking regions such as Chandigarh into the newly formed state of Punjab. He fasted for 74 days till his death in 1969.
Mamata BanerjeeThe Chief Minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool Congress went on hunger strike in 2006 during left rule in the state. She went on hunger strike to protest against the forcible land acquisition to make factories for Tata's Group Nano.
She ended her strike after 25 days after the TATA group withdrew from the state.
K Chandrashekar RaoTelangana leader KCR went on hunger strike in 2009 to demand statehood for Telangana. The BRS leader began a fast-unto-death and 11 days later, the Congress government began the work to grant statehood. In 2014, Telangana was carved out of Andhra with KCR as its first chief minister.
Anna HazareProminent activist Anna Hazare went on a hunger strike during the infamous anti-corruption movement in India. Hazare declared a fast unto death to demand the passing of the Lokpal Bill against corruption.
slot sitesThe anti-corruption leader was on strike for 12 days. Anna Hazare's anti-corruption changed the political landscape in India, and contributed to the formation of Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal.
Medha PatkarThe pioneer behind the Narmada Bachao Andolan went on hunger strike in 2019 after the Gujarat government raised the water levels at the Sardar Sarovar Dam. She went on hunger strike for nine days to demand arrangements for people living in nearby villages, who had been impacted by the raised water levels.
Manoj Jarange-PatilMaratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil went on hunger strike for the first time in September 2023 to demand reservation under the Maratha quota in Maharashtra.
By January 2024, he announced his seventh hunger strike. Patil ended his hunger strike once the state assembly passed a bill calling for 10 percent reservation under the Maratha quota.
Sonam WangchuckClimate activist Soman Wangchuck went on a 21-day hunger strike to demand constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under the sixth schedule of the constitution. Along with this the climate activist also called for statehood for the union territory.
India had also emerged victors in the Olympics bronze play-off three years ago in Tokyo. Goalie PR Sreejesh was the hero then in a pulsating 5-4 win over Germany, whom the Indians narrowly lost to in the Paris 2024 semi-finals.
After the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh were separated into two union territories. Both states have been asking the Central government for statehood
Jagjit Singh DallewalIn 2020, the passing of three controversial farm laws by the BJP government sparked nationwide protests. Five years later, farmers have continued their demand for the government to repeal the laws.
Dallewal, who is the convener Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), nears 50 days of his hunger strike amid deteriorating health.