The hunger strike is used in India to convey a sense of moral high ground as much as draw attention to an issue. Made most explicit and famous through the actions of Mahatma Gandhi, and used since then to "shame" people into activity: witness the recent anti-corruption drive and Anna Hazare's use of it (and the immediate sympathy/respect it commanded).
What it says about the spoilt children that play at being pilots in AI is something else entirely.
