Punjab Farmer’s Fast Enters Crucial 40-Day Mark

Fasting Beyond 40 Days Raises Risk of Organ Failure and Cardiac Problems

January 4, 2025

Farmers at a protest site. Photo by Randeep Maddoke, CC BY-SA 4.0

A 70-year-old farmer leader in Punjab reached his 40th consecutive day of indefinite fasting to demand a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops on Jan. 4. A fast beyond 40 days in older adults may lead to the depletion of fat and muscle, increasing the risk of organ failure and sudden cardiac complications.

In a video message, the fasting farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, on Jan.3 invited supporters to a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” (farmers’ mega-gathering) planned for Jan. 4 at the Khanauri protest site on the Punjab Haryana border, according to Hindustan Times.  

Dallewal, who has refrained from all medical assistance despite a deterioration in his health, intends to speak for “two-three minutes” during the gathering to share an important announcement.

However, Section 163 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) has been imposed by local authorities around the protest area to limit the assembly of large groups. Under this regulation, gatherings of five or more people are disallowed, and the police have been deployed to prevent any mass demonstrations.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann has told media that a government medical team has been regularly monitoring Dallewal’s condition.

Dallewal wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “I have decided to sacrifice my life to stop the deaths of farmers. I hope that after my death, the central government will wake up from its slumber and move forward towards fulfilling our 13 demands, including a law on the MSP.”

The farmers are calling for a legally guaranteed MSP for crops, debt relief and pensions for agricultural workers, in addition to the withdrawal of police cases lodged against demonstrators and justice for those killed in a 2021 vehicular incident in Lakhimpur Kheri involving farmers and a journalist. They also seek reinstatement of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act and compensation for families who lost loved ones during the 2020–21 protests.

Farmers under banners of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, among others, have been camping at various border points since February of last year.

The farmers previously attempted to march to the capital, but were blocked by authorities.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said the government would follow Supreme Court directives on addressing the farmers’ grievances. However, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has responded, “Our demands pertain to the Centre, this issue is not of the courts. The Modi government should directly talk (to the protesting farmers).”

The Supreme Court on Jan. 2 clarified it has not directed anyone to end Dallewal’s hunger strike and is focused solely on his well-being, as reported by Business Standard. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia maintained that a shift to the hospital for proper care does not mean the protest leader is breaking his fast. “We just said let his health be taken care of and then his fast can go on. Shifting to hospital does not mean fast is broken,” the court clarified. “Our concern is no harm to his life. His life is precious as a farm leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies, he is only taking the farmers’ cause.”

Dallewal has refused any assistance unless there is some form of genuine intervention or talk initiated by relevant government bodies regarding the farmers’ long-standing demands.

In the first 24 to 48 hours of a fast, the body primarily relies on glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. During this initial phase, people often experience fatigue, hunger pangs, headaches and irritability as glycogen levels deplete.

From about day 2 through day 5, glycogen levels are considerably reduced, and the body shifts to burning fat as its primary energy source. As this happens, ketones are produced, which the brain can use instead of glucose. Some individuals report diminished hunger during this period, but they may also feel lethargic, lightheaded or experience a dip in blood pressure.

Between day 5 and day 14, the body enters a deeper state of ketosis. During this time, fat stores provide much of the needed energy, but the body also begins to break down some muscle tissue for protein. Many fasters can experience weakness and a more pronounced drop in energy levels. Electrolyte imbalance, particularly involving sodium, potassium, or magnesium, poses a serious risk, and without proper oversight, heart function and other bodily systems can be adversely affected.

Once the fast extends beyond two weeks—after Day 14—fat stores continue to burn, and muscle breakdown becomes more pronounced. At this point, organs like the heart and liver may be placed under considerable strain, and if the body lacks enough essential nutrients, internal processes begin to suffer.

At around 30 days and beyond, a severe nutrient deficit develops. Deficiencies in vitamins, minerals and key nutrients can impair various organ systems and weaken immunity to the point where infections become more likely and harder to fight. The substantial muscle and fat loss can also have detrimental effects on cardiac health.

Once a fast goes beyond 40 days, especially in older adults, most readily accessible fat and muscle reserves may have been exhausted. When critical tissues begin to break down, the risk of organ failure climbs, and sudden cardiac issues like arrhythmias can arise.

Seniors generally have lower muscle mass, reduced organ resilience and may already face chronic health conditions that can worsen rapidly under prolonged nutrient deprivation. Bone density issues add to the vulnerability, and a compromised immune system makes them more susceptible to infections.