'Wangchuk our collective conscience': Academics, filmmakers urge activist to end hunger strike

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Academics, filmmakers and civil society activists on Friday appealed to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, calling him "our collective conscience". The joint appeal had over 60 signatories, including Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee, authors Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai and filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Honey Trehan and Vishal Bharadwaj. "Sonam Wangchuk -- on the 20th excruciating day of his hunger strike -- is our collective conscience, a great protector and ally of the environment and of young people in India. "Sonamji -- we appeal to you to end your fast. You are too precious to lose in this tragic way. Your sacrifice and courage have inspired people around the world," the appeal said. They urged the government to initiate a dialogue with Wangchuk and "honour the spirit of public service that he represents". In a separate statement, another group of academics, including Romila Thapar, Prabhat Patnaik, Utsa Patnaik, Zoya Hasan and Neera Chandhoke, questioned Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's silence on the ongoing protests. "Many students are also on hunger strike. Their lives too are in danger. If anything happens to them, then posterity will hold you squarely responsible for it, and deem your conduct to be utterly dishonourable for clinging to office by sacrificing precious lives. "On the other hand, it would be an honourable act if you resigned as education minister, owning moral responsibility for the government's failures," they wrote. Friday was the 20th day of Wangchuk's hunger strike. According to the latest medical bulletin, he has lost more than nine kilograms since he began his fast and remains under close medical supervision, with doctors warning of increasing muscle loss and the risk of organ damage if the hunger strike continues. PTI SBR PRK