Why Sonam Wangchuk, Who Inspired 3 Idiots, Is On A 5-day Fast In Ladakh

Today marks the fourth day of fasting for Sonam Wangchuk, the inspiration for Aamir Khan's character in 3 Idiots, in Ladakh. He sent an SOS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23 appealing to him to take an action claiming “All is not well” in the Union Territory.

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Sonam Wangchuk, the Indian engineer, innovator, and education reformist who inspired the popular Aamir Khan starrer film 3 Idiots, is currently on a five-day fast in Ladakh from January 26, Republic Day. Earlier, on January 21, Wangchuk announced that he is planning to sit on a ‘Climate Fast’ at Khardungla pass at 18000ft in -40 °C temperature.

“ALL IS NOT WELL in Ladakh! In my latest video I appeal to @narendramodi ji to intervene & give safeguards to eco-fragile Ladakh. To draw attention of Govt & the world I plan to sit on a 5 day #ClimateFast from 26 Jan at Khardungla pass at 18000ft -40 °C” he wrote on Twitter.

Further, he added that he was fasting from HIAL (Himalayan Institute of Alternatives), Ladakh since the routes to Khardungla were blocked by the recent snowfall. However, he later said that he is under house arrest and that the UT administration has limited his fast to the HAIL campus and has forbidden him from climbing Khardungla because of threats to his life and other reasons.

Who is Sonam Wangchuk?

Born in 1966 in Ladakh, Wangchuk completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Srinagar in 1987. He had to pay for his own schooling because of disagreements with his father on the engineering track he wanted to pursue. He also pursued two years of additional study in Earthen Architecture in 2011 at the Craterre School of Architecture in Grenoble, France.

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Following his graduation, Wangchuk along with his brother and five peers began Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988 which set up innovative schools in remote villages of Ladakh. The campus of these schools are run on solar energy and uses no fossil fuels for cooking, lighting, or heating. So is his home. He is also the founder of HIAL and a recipient of the Magsaysay Award in the year 2018.

Operation New Hope was the name of Wangchuk's 1994 reform initiative for the government school system. He also played a key role in the creation of the low-cost, mud-based solar-heated structures that help keep Ladakh warm during the harsh winters. Another ground-breaking invention to address the water shortage in highland locations is the Ice Stupa by Wangchuk. In 2021, he also constructed a solar-heated tent that is environmentally friendly for use by Army personnel in bitterly cold locales like Siachen and the Galwan valley in the Ladakh region. He received the sixth Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award in November 2022 from former vice president Venkaiah Naidu.

Wangchuk’s life, career, and personality inspired the fictional character of Phunsukh Wangdu portrayed by Aamir Khan in the 2009 film 3 Idiots.

Why Is Sonam Wangchuk On ‘Climate Fast’ In Ladakh?

Claiming “All is not well in Ladakh”, Wangchuk sent an SOS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23 appealing to him to take an action.

Ladakh is crucial from a military standpoint and was involved in the Kargil and subsequent conflicts. Wangchuk expressed his worry regarding the prospect of corporate growth in the Union Territory which is expected to exacerbate the already severe shortage of resources like water. Glaciers may melt as a result of mining and similar operations.

"Ladakh, also known as the "third pole" of the earth, is dealing with serious issues as he mentions the 6th Schedule and protests related to it. To promote total economic development and decision-making autonomy, locals have been calling for the inclusion of Ladakh under the 6th Schedule. The topic has also previously been brought up in Parliament," he explained in a video.

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According to the Constitution, the 6th Schedule only applies to areas where at least 50% of the population is indigenous. As per Wangchuk’s video, Ladakh, which has a population made up primarily of indigenous people (more than 95%), was anticipated to be added soon. The Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, has also given promises, he said.

In the 13-minute video, Wangchuk further said that the Ladakh locals are baffled as to why the government, who listened to their 70-year-old demand for a Union Territory, is not paying any heed to this.

Previously, Wangchuk had said that instead of giving money to the world, people need to adapt their behaviours to address concerns like climate change. In December, he used recent events in the northern mountainous region, such as flash floods, to illustrate the effects of climate change and said that people living in big cities throughout the world are to blame for these changes.

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