Hunger Strike by PhD Students in Pune Raises Alarm; Government Yet to Respond
Reported by Gayatri Kelkar
Pune, 19th September 2025: Nearly 150 PhD students from across Maharashtra are continuing their protest at Goodluck Chowk on FC Road, demanding urgent action from the state government. The agitation, which began outside the Saarathi organization’s office, had lasted 20 days without any response from officials. Frustrated by the inaction, the students shifted their protest to Goodluck Chowk, where it has now entered its fourth day.
The students, representing districts such as Satara, Sangli, West Maharashtra, Gadchiroli, and Nandurbar, have put forward four primary demands:
Immediate release of the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 advertisements.
Publication of these pending advertisements without delay.
Issuance of an independent advertisement incorporating their demands.
Representation of Lingayat community students in the Saarathi organization.
One of the protesters, Dayanand Pawar, a PhD student in Economics, has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past four days, abstaining from both food and water. His deteriorating health has raised serious concerns among fellow students and supporters.
The agitation has also begun drawing political attention. Congress Yuvak Upajilha Adhyaksh Dhawal Singh Lawand has openly expressed support for the protesting scholars.
“We protested for 20 days at Saarathi, but not a single government official came forward to listen to us. This neglect forced us to shift here to Goodluck Chowk. We are not asking for anything extraordinary — just the release of advertisements that are due and fair inclusion,” said Sujal Sanjay Bachherao, a student representative.
Echoing similar frustration, another protester, Viraj Raje Prasad, added: “Our patience is being tested, but we will not stop. Many of us have traveled from far-off districts to fight for our rights. If the government continues to ignore us, the responsibility for any unfortunate incident will rest on their shoulders.”
The students have vowed to continue their sit-in until the Maharashtra government gives a positive response to their demands.
