Jharkhand Students’ Protest: Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has emerged as the face of the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand, with supporters dubbing him the state’s Sonam Wangchuk after he began an indefinite hunger strike in support of protesting students.

Devendra Nath Mahto launched his fast on the night of August 2 at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, saying it was the last resort after weeks of demonstrations failed to prompt a concrete response from the government. The movement centres on alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted in the state, with protesters demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe.

Why Is Devendra Nath Mahto Being Called Jharkhand’s ‘Sonam Wangchuk’? The comparison stems from Mahto’s decision to undertake an indefinite fast in support of students, mirroring activist Sonam Wangchuk’s use of hunger strikes to draw national attention to public issues. Supporters say Mahto’s fast has become the defining moment of the ongoing agitation, placing him at the forefront of the movement. Mahto stated that the agitation had reached a “now or never” stage for thousands of job aspirants, adding that the hunger strike became necessary after repeated protests failed to move the authorities.

Who Is Devendra Nath Mahto? Devendra Nath Mahto is a student leader from a village in Ranchi district. He completed his schooling in Bundu before pursuing higher education at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University in Ranchi. He holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree and postgraduate degrees in Sanskrit and Kurmali, Tribal and Regional Languages from Hazaribagh. Mahto has been active in student politics since 2015, raising issues related to scholarships, recruitment rules, paper leaks and reservation policies. He also contested the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly election from the Tamar constituency as an Independent candidate.

What Is The Protest About? The agitation began after the results of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Civil Services Preliminary Examination were declared on July 5. Students alleged that multiple irregularities in the examination process surfaced after the results were announced. Since then, protesters have organised a series of demonstrations, including a round-the-clock satyagraha that began on July 25 and an indefinite sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium from July 29. On August 2, Mahto escalated the protest by launching an indefinite hunger strike, saying there was no option left after weeks of peaceful demonstrations.

What Are The Students Demanding? The protesters are demanding a CBI and ED investigation into the alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and other recruitment tests. Mahto has also called for the cancellation of the 14th JPSC preliminary examination until transparency and fairness in the recruitment process are ensured.

Appeal For A Peaceful Movement: In a recent post on X, Mahto said the agitation, which began on July 5, had entered a difficult phase following the day-and-night satyagraha that started on July 25. “There is weakness in the body, but the resolve to deliver justice to students is stronger than ever,” he wrote.

He urged supporters to keep the movement peaceful and constitutional, stressing that the fight was not for an individual but for the future of lakhs of young job aspirants in Jharkhand. Devendra Nath Mahto’s protest has also drawn support from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said he held a video call with Mahto and other student leaders to express solidarity with the movement.

Bollywood Celebrities Extend Support To Student Protest: The Jharkhand students’ agitation has also received support from Bollywood, with actors Sonakshi Sinha and Imran Khan voicing solidarity with the protesters on social media. Sonakshi Sinha shared an Instagram post backing the movement, writing, “It’s so disheartening to see students of our country go through this… when will it stop?” Meanwhile, Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na actor Imran Khan also reacted to the protest. Sharing a sarcastic take on the issue, he wrote, “Let’s All Ignore Them,” in an apparent criticism of the authorities’ response to the students’ demands.