The Cockroach Janata Party, Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike and the Rise of People’s Politics

What happens when young people refuse to remain silent? When students facing an uncertain future take to the streets, when ordinary citizens organize without traditional political structures, and when a hunger strike becomes a symbol of resistance?

This discussion begins with the emergence of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) – from the NEET examination controversy and the deeply personal stories of students who lost their lives amid the pressures surrounding competitive examinations, to the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar. It will also explore the story of Sonam Wangchuk and fellow hunger strikers, their demands, their sacrifices, and the price of sustained protest.

But the conversation goes beyond India. Why are genuine grassroots and leaderless political movements so rare in Pakistan? Why do political parties tend to remain highly centralized and top-down? Where can ordinary citizens – and particularly young people -find meaningful space to participate in political life and shape public policy?

The discussion will also examine the challenges faced by grassroots movements in Pakistan, including restrictions on freedom of expression, human rights concerns, and the difficulties of reaching wider audiences. Drawing lessons from both contemporary movements and Pakistan’s own history of popular mobilization, the session will ask whether politics can be reclaimed as a space for ordinary people, and what we can learn from those who continue to organize, protest and hope.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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