The real ‘Phunsuk Wangdu’ of 3 Idiots, Sonam Wangchuk’s health deteriorated, after 18 days of fast, now the matter reached the court!

The heat of the movement is once again being felt at Jantar Mantar. Sonam Wangchuk, who raised the awareness of the environment through his ‘Ice Stupa’ and solar-powered tents in the snowy valleys of Ladakh, is currently sitting on an indefinite fast amidst the scorching heat of Delhi. Lending their support to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement, they are raising their voice against alleged rigging in the examination systems and the demands of Ladakh. Due to this fast that has been going on for more than 18 days, his health is deteriorating rapidly, due to which his fans are very worried.

In fact, doctors and supporters say that due to the hunger strike for so many days, his weight has decreased by more than eight kilograms. In view of the seriousness of the situation, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been filed in the Delhi High Court, in which a request has been made to immediately admit him to a government hospital and forcibly give him nutrients if needed. The court has sought a quick response from the Center and Delhi government on this very sensitive matter.

Who is Sonam Wangchuk?

Sonam Wangchuk’s name may not be that new for a common Indian, because the popular character of ‘Phunsuk Wangdu’ played by Aamir Khan in the 2009 blockbuster film ‘Three Idiots’ was actually inspired by her life. Sonam, a mechanical engineer by profession, was born in 1966 in Achinathang village of Ladakh. After completing his studies, instead of choosing the comfortable path of government or corporate job, he chose the difficult path of changing the destiny of his hilly area.

The biggest problem of Ladakh has always been water shortage and extremely cold weather. In this remote area, he designed such eco-friendly mud houses, which remain warm from inside even in extreme cold (temperature below minus 18 degrees) without any heater or coal. Apart from this, to overcome the shortage of water for agriculture, he invented the ‘Ice Stupa’ (artificial glacier) technology. This technology freezes the water wasted in winter in the form of huge ice cones, which melts in summer and quenches the thirst of farmers.

A unique battle to improve the education system

Wangchuk believes that the imposed rote education system destroys the creativity of children. With this thinking, he founded ‘Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh’ (SECMOL) in 1988. This is not a traditional school; Here, admission is given to those students who fail in the general board examinations. The SECMOL campus runs entirely on solar power and here students learn practically everything from farming themselves to generating electricity and running their own radio station.

Due to these extraordinary efforts of his, he was honored with the prestigious ‘Raman Magsaysay Award’ in the year 2018. Apart from this, he has won many national and international honors including Rolex Award for Enterprise.

What is the reason for sitting on hunger strike in Delhi?

Wangchuk has already gone on a long fast for several days to get special status for Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and to protect the environment there. This time the main reason for his fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi is related to the youth and students of the country. He is standing in support of the students protesting over the alleged irregularities and paper leak cases in the NEET exam.

“I am not a megastar or a ‘modern Gandhi’, but a responsible citizen of the country who is raising his voice to save the future of children.”

— Sonam Wangchuk

It is being told that the agitators are demanding that the Education Ministry should take its moral responsibility and the generations who were victims of examination rigging should get justice. Along with this, they are also adamant on the demand to restart the stalled talks with the government on issues related to the development and autonomy of Ladakh. Many opposition leaders and social workers have expressed concern over the government’s silence regarding his deteriorating health amid the movement.