Despite international recognition and support, Dr Binayak Sen continues to be imprisoned on false charges. To bring awareness and justice, his wife Dr Ilina Sen, Magsasay award winner Sandeep Pandey and others went on a 10-day fast in Raipur ending on June 25. Several AID volunteers in the US, including Rashim Singh (10 days), Rajeshwar Ojha (5 days), Dr Mohan Bhagat (3 days), Somu Kumar (4 days), Nitin Paradkar (4 days), Selva Ganapathy (3 days), Neena Yennawar (3 days) also fasted in solidarity.

Fasting for justice is quintessentially Indian, with roots going back to Gandhiji and the Indian freedom movement. But it is the first time in the history of AID that many volunteers have fasted for several days, indicating a deep involvement and identification with the cause.

AID Houston volunteers Anand, Sekhar and Nimish talked to Rashim Singh about her fast:
Q: What motivated you to fast for 10 days?
A: I heard Dr. Ilina Sen at the AID conference and read articles about Dr Binayak Sen. Dr Sen, who has worked for 30 years for the poor has been held falsely by the government. I believed it is wrong and I decided to stand for my belief.

Q: What would your message be to anybody reading this?

A: A country is made up of people not the boundaries. If the government is not able to provide a respectable life, then people should stand up for themselves. In the last 3 days of my fast, I thought about the Bhopalis who have been on a hunger strike. I urge the PM to keep a 2-day fast to understand how difficult it is – and meet the suffering junta.

Think about the farmers who have committed suicide all over India. I got a glimpse of why one would commit suicide. I started my fast in good health, but it was not easy to go through the last three days. The farmers and their families, who have been living under malnutrition are fasting not by choice but by the circumstances forced on them by the government.

Q: Is there hope under these circumstances for the poor?

A: A lot of people in India are improving their life. But they should think of the factors contributing to their "improved" life. A growing economy at the expense of somebody else's life and oppression is not ‘improved’ human life. The hope for is for a compassionate citizen who would understand that improved life is when the entire society is uplifted to a respectable state of life.