Andhra Pradesh a state formed with government agreeing to demands of separate state after Potti Sriramulu died fasting for the cause of a separate state for Telugu- Speaking people have a lot to share about Hunger Strikes. Its known news how KCR's fast on to death to achieve Telangana created furor in Andhra Pradesh. Now, R.Krishnayya's fast and fight to provide justice to the B.C students is creating ripples in our state. R.Krishnayya getting the support from all opposition parties and students, the government has come down and made it clear that it would take care of the student’s fees. So what is the origin of hunger strike? Let's go back to our history and check out the origin of Hunger Strike.

A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change.

In India, the practice of a hunger protest, where the protestor fasts at the door of an offending party (typically a debtor) in a public call for justice, was abolished by the government in 1861; this indicates the prevalence of the practice prior to that date, or at least a public awareness of it. This Indian practice is ancient, going back to around 400 to 750 BC. This can be known since it appears in the Valmiki Ramayana, which was composed around that time. The actual mention appears in the Ayodhya Kanda, (the second book of the Ramayana), in Sarga (section) 103. Bharata has gone to ask the exiled Rama to come back and rule the kingdom. Bharata tries many arguments, none of which work, at which point he decides to do a hunger strike. He announces his intention to fast, calls for his charioteer Sumantra to bring him some sacred Kusha grass, (but Sumantra won't do it since he's too busy looking at Rama's face, so Bharata has to get the grass himself), lies down upon it in front of Rama. Rama, however, is quickly able to persuade him to abandon the attempt. Rama mentions it as a practice of the brahmanas.

Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned in 1922, 1930, 1933 and 1942. Because of Gandhi's notoriety around the world, it is widely viewed that British authorities did not wish to allow him die in custody. It is likely Britain's reputation would have suffered as a result of such an event. However, many also claim that Gandhi would not martyr himself without good reason. Gandhi engaged in two famous hunger strikes. The first protested British rule of India, and the second protested autocratic rule in the newly independent India.

However strong the impact of a hunger strike is it is advisable if our leaders take it as the last step towards their struggle for people than as a first step. If we can achieve justice to people by democratic means let’s do that first and take to Hunger strike as the last step. Who wants to loose our leaders when we can have them with us and achieve growth.

Sharma S

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