Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent scientist and activist, has initiated a call for what he describes as “India’s second Independence movement.” This movement aims to reform the process by which the country selects its leaders. Wangchuk is urging citizens to identify and nominate individuals who are “selfless, fearless,” and possess strong character and substance. He believes these qualities are essential for shaping a progressive future for India.
He highlighted the criminal cases against elected representatives, saying that close to half of India’s MPs have criminal cases against them, while a third face serious charges such as murder, rape and kidnapping. However, he stressed that the conversation should not be limited to intellectuals.
In a post on X on Thursday, Wangchuk said India needs a “peaceful revolution”, particularly in the way political leaders are chosen, if the country is to remain a “respectable nation” by 2047. He said this was contributing to a growing “trust deficit” in the country. Wangchuk said he wanted to consult some of the “best minds” across India to brainstorm about what needs to change and how such changes could be brought about. Instead, he called for the involvement of “selfless, fearless men and women of character and substance” who could contribute meaningfully to the effort to reform the political system. “Together, can we start India’s 2nd Independence movement?” he asked, framing the initiative as a collective effort to rethink the country’s political system and leadership ahead of 2047, the centenary of India’s Independence. During their conversation, Mahato said Wangchuk assured him of continued support for the students’ agitation in Jharkhand. Following the assurance, Mahato agreed to consume water and salt but said he would continue his indefinite hunger strike.
