Mahto began his fast at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium on August 2. (Photo: X)
Ranchi: There comes a moment in every protest when a movement finds its face. In Jharkhand, that face is Devendranath Mahto. As thousands of students continue to demand transparency in recruitment examinations, the young student leader has chosen the toughest form of protest: an indefinite hunger strike. His determination has earned him comparisons with education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, turning him into a symbol of resistance for students who believe their future has been compromised by repeated examination controversies.
Student leader Devendranath Mahto’s indefinite hunger strike entered its third day on Wednesday, with supporters claiming that his health has deteriorated after he reportedly stopped drinking water.
Mahto began his fast at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium on August 2, saying peaceful protests had failed to persuade the government to address students’ concerns. He has vowed to continue the strike until authorities respond to demands for a transparent investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations.
Students are demanding a CBI and ED probe into the alleged recruitment scam and the cancellation of the 14th JPSC preliminary examination until fairness and transparency are ensured.
देश के प्रख्यात इनोवेटर श्री सोनम वांगचुक सर से वीडियो कॉल से सीधे संवाद करने का अवसर।
उन्होंने हमारे आंदोलन के प्रति अपना बहुमूल्य मार्गदर्शन, प्रेरणादायी विचार एवं हौसला प्रदान किया। उनके आग्रह पर हमने जल ग्रहण किया। साथ ही, उनसे रांची आकर आंदोलनरत छात्रों का मनोबल बढ़ाने का… pic.twitter.com/qktmMyfTtQ— Devendra Nath Mahto (@DevendraNathMa9) August 5, 2026
He belongs to a small village in the Ranchi district and did his schooling from Bundu. He received his higher education from Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi. He has a postgraduate degree of Sanskrit, Kurmali, Tribal and Regional Language and B.Ed. degree from Hazaribagh. He also contested the Jharkhand Assembly Elections from Tamar Constituency as an Independent candidate in 2024.
Since 2015, he has been active in bringing problems such as scholarships, paper leak, recruitment rules and reservation issues, thus becoming a prominent face of student politics across the state.
The agitation has been ongoing since July 25, and has now turned into a state-wide campaign, with Ranchi becoming its focus.
Students have alleged large scale anti-democratic practices leading to the JPSC and JSSC examinations, including OMR sheet tampering, and the leaking of exam papers. The appointment of an examination agency which they say was previously blacklisted by other government schemes had also sparked off the agitation.
भूख हड़ताल का तीसरा दिन,सत्याग्रह का 11वाँ दिन।
दिशोम गुरु शिबू सोरेन की प्रथम पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए हमारा यह संघर्ष उनके नाम समर्पित है।
झारखंड के युवाओं का यह आंदोलन किसी पद या राजनीति के लिए नहीं, बल्कि निष्पक्ष, पारदर्शी और भ्रष्टाचार-मुक्त… pic.twitter.com/HmTM8K1ZCb— Devendra Nath Mahto (@DevendraNathMa9) August 4, 2026
The agitation has been going on under the shadow of past controversies, ranging from the alleged JSSC CGL paper leak, to the Jharkhand Excise Constable exam leak to viral question papers of Class 10 boards.
Students says that Mahto's hunger strike was a peaceful protest similar to the style of Sonam Wangchuk. This comparison came into the limelight once the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) joined hands with the Jharkhand agitation. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had video telephoned Mahto and a number of student leaders, pledging his support to the agitation.
With Mahto's health condition being closely monitored by doctors, students are continuing to converge in Ranchi, demanding talks with the government and a transparent recruitment process that will restore faith in public exams.
