New Delhi: Actors Omi Vaidya – who acted in a film inspired by Sonam Wangchuk’s life – and legendary actor Zeenat Aman have posted messages on social media in support of Sonam Wangchuk who is on the 17th day of his fast, along with others, at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.Protesters under the umbrella of the Cockroach Janata Party have been asking for the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with hunger strikers growing critical. Over 1,800 prominent citizens have already called on them to stop their hunger strike, noting remarkably that the “government does not have a heart or a conscience.”‘I don’t really want this guy to die’Actor Omi Vaidya, who is best known for playing the character Chatur in 3 Idiots, which had Amir Khan playing a character based on Wangchuk, has shared a video saying, “I don’t want Phunsukh Wangdu to die.” Phunsukh Wangdu is the name of the character based on Wangchuk, who the CJP said has lost 9 kilos since the start of his fast.“Hello idiots, pehchana [recognise me]? This is Omi Vaidya, Chatur from 3 Idiots and Sadiq from The Office, and I have an important message for you. I don’t really do this very often, so please listen up,” he said.Vaidya said that he has met Wangchuk, who he described as a pretty “interesting guy” who has done some “incredible” things. “And he seems pretty humble, you know, which is kind of fantastic,” he said.Vaidya encouraged people to look Wangchuk up to see what he has done and sought to spotlight the fact that he has been on a “very long hunger strikes.”“It’s [been] over many many weeks and his blood sugar has gone down very much,” he said.“Whether you agree with him or not, I don’t really want this guy to die,” Vaidya said.In the three-minute video also added that if viewers look into this, they or their family members or their friends, may find that they agree with Wangchuk.‘I implore the Indian government’Bollywood legend Zeenat Aman has also posted on Wangchuk, imploring the government to begin talks with him. She also exhorted upon people to not sit back and watch “one of its greatest minds be sacrificed”.Aman, who posts on several human rights issues on her Instagram, wrote the following message:My thoughts today are in the country’s capital city where @wangchuksworld world is entering the 17th day of his indefinite hunger strike.I read in a news article that Mr. Wangchuk“…has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain.” And that, when asked to end his fast, he replied “Don’t ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why they won’t even have a dialogue.”Mr. Wangchuk is the founder of SECMOL, the inventor of the ice stupa, a harbinger of educational reform in Ladakh, a dedicated environmental and community activist, and the inspiration of that much loved Bollywood character “Phunsuk Wangdu” played so compellingly by Aamir Khan in 3 Idiots. By all accounts Mr. Wangdu is a brilliant and conscientious man, one that has been recognised globally for his social impact with umpteen prestigious awards.With respect to Mr. Wangchuk’s wishes, I implore the Indian government to open dialogue on this matter that concerns the future of all India.We must not become a society that sits back and watches one of its greatest minds be sacrificed. India has a long history of peaceful protest; those who wield power are obliged to meet such protest with peaceful dialogue.My respect and best wishes to all.