Sonam Wangchuk's pitch for India's '2nd Independence movement' to 'reform political system'

Scientist and activist Sonam Wangchuk has called for "India's second Independence movement" to change how the country chooses its leaders, urging citizens to suggest "selfless, fearless" people of character and substance who can help shape India's future.

In a post on X today (14 August), 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 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.

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 to bring about such changes. However, he stressed that the conversation should not be limited to intellectuals.

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.

Wangchuk, who is based in Ladakh, acknowledged that he did not know where such people could be found across the country and sought the public's help in identifying them.

He asked people to propose at least one such person from India as well as from their own region.

"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.

Wangchuk backs student protests in Jharkhand

Earlier, Wangchuk had extended his support to student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who is on an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in the JPSC, JSSC CGL and other competitive examinations.

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.

Wangchuk's intervention came weeks after he emerged as a prominent face of a student-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

He joined the protest in June and began an indefinite hunger strike, demanding accountability over concerns surrounding the examination system.