Why these scientist-turned-Hindu-seers plan to die, all blaming the govt

After Ganga campaigner G D Agrawal's death, an Ashram has its saints sitting on a relay-fast to death -- To save the Ganga

At Matri Sadan, a deceptively serene ashram on the banks of river Ganga in Haridwar, Brahmachari Atmabodhanand is sitting on a fast unto death. The 26-year-old computer science student-turned-seer has taken over the ‘responsibility’ from G D Agrawal, the 86-year old scientist-seer who fasted to death when the Union government did not listen to his demands to save river Ganga.

The 26-year-old is not alone. Thirty-nine-year-old Mahant Gopaldas too been on fast unto death now for 145 days. He has been admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh. A third, Swami Punyanand (61) is preparing to follow them. He has moved to a fruit-only diet, waiting in the wings to take over the ‘responsibility’. “When I die, Swami Punyanandji shall take over. He shall be the next to sacrifice,” says Atmabodhanand, in a calm voice that betrays nothing but resolve.