Sonam Wangchuk, who is in the headlines for his pro-environment antics in Ladakh, recently appealed to the people to carry out a protest march. In light of this Section 144 has been imposed in Leh. But what inspired him to undertake these actions and why is he protesting in Ladakh? Here is the story behind the man who has often been cited as the inspiration for the character, Phunsukh Wangdu of the film ‘3 Idiots’.
Wangchuk’s story is tied around his time at school during which he felt greatly alienated. So, what he experienced while in his schooling days became a motivation for setting up Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988. Here the main objective is to remodel government schools and offer quality education to the indigenous youths of Ladakh. The campus itself SECMOL is a unique example of a sustainable engineering project that runs solely on solar power.
But Wangchuk’s imaginative prowess goes beyond school walls. To alleviate water scarcity resulting from melting glaciers, Wangchuk innovated “Ice Stupas” which are artificial conical glaciers holding winter meltwater until it is needed most during springtime when farming starts in earnest. These cost-effective innovations demonstrate how traditional skills may be fused into new solutions.
On account of this long-term concern for his area, Sonam Wangchuk was on a fast in the Ladakh region for twenty-one straight days with temperatures below zero-degree celsius, he only drank water and some essential salts so as to raise awareness about the devastating effects of climate change on delicate Himalayan mountain ranges.
The Himalayas face a rapidly changing environment, this is indicated by studies which suggest that the region is warming at a faster rate than global average. The outcomes are devastating:
- Retreat of glaciers from Himalayas,
- Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs),
- Changes in Weather Patterns,
- Disturbances in the whole ecosystem of Himalaya.
As such, it has direct consequences on water security and livelihoods both in Ladakh and the downstream plains of India where millions depend on such water sources.
His protest goes beyond the climate crisis and asks for Ladakh’s statehood under the sixth schedule of Indian Constitution. This, he holds, is important because it will empower indigenous communities who are 97% of the population of Ladakh to have a great role in conservation and management of their lands and resources for sustainable development.
Sonam Wangchuk’s starvation calls upon all mankind to appreciate the significance of Hindu Kush-Himalayas. The first call for action he has made requires immediate changes like: stricter environmental regulations, investment into renewable energy sources, stronger protection to indigenous communities, as well as worldwide commitment towards reversing global warming.