Climate activist, engineer, and innovator Sonam Wangchuk ended his 21-day hunger strike on March 26, 2024. The character of ‘Phunsukh Wangdu’ from the Bollywood film ‘3 Idiots’ was inspired by him. Read on to find out the reasons for the protest and what’s after the end of Wangchuk’s hunger strike.
The reason behind the protest
Amid the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh( August 2019). The residents of Ladakh have been demanding complete statehood and its inclusion in the 6th schedule of the constitution. Under the sixth schedule, the tribal areas are to be administered as autonomous regions and the Governor of the state is empowered to determine the areas as autonomous regions. This is one of the key reasons behind the protest. Other reasons include climatic and environmental challenges affecting the sustainability of the region.
"Today our planet is going through huge challenges, environmental challenges, global warming, climate change and nowhere else this challenge can be seen more than in the Himalayas, than in the Tibetan plateau,” Sonam Wangchuk said at the beginning of his 21-day hunger strike.
“It was the end of the 1st leg of my fast. Btw 21 days was the longest fast Gandhiji kept. From tomorrow women's groups of Ladakh will take it forward with a 10-day fast, then the youth, then the monks from monasteries... then me again, and so on. The journey has only started. But we still hope we won't have to do all this. Sooner rather than later a sense of responsible leadership will arise in Narendra Modi ji and Amit Shah ji” says Wangchuk’s latest X (Twitter) post.
“350 people slept in- 10 °C. 5000 people in the day here. But still not a word from the government.
We need statesmen of integrity, farsightedness & wisdom in this country & not just shortsighted characterless politicians. And I very much hope that Narendra Modi ji & Amit Shah ji will soon prove that they are statesmen..” read his other X post.
More about Sonam Wangchuk Sonam Wangchuk,
a renowned engineer and social activist from the Himalayan region of Ladakh, has made significant contributions to the region's education system and environmental sustainability. Born in 1966, he co-founded the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988, focusing on incorporating local culture and values into the curriculum. His innovative approach has been recognized nationally and internationally, including the SECMOL Alternative School.
Wangchuk's invention of "ice stupas" in response to Ladakh's water scarcity has earned him the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2016. He is also an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable development in Ladakh, raising awareness about the region's fragile ecosystem and promoting eco-friendly practices among local communities. His activism on social justice issues, such as his hunger strike in Ladakh, demonstrates his commitment to addressing government neglect and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. He also received the Magsaysay Award in 2018.
To sum up
Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike underscored Ladakh's aspirations for statehood and sustainability. It would be interesting to see what unfolds in the future as a result of this protest. You can convey your opinion on this issue in the comment section.
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