Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on July 18, 2026, after her indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its 21st day. The Delhi Police said the move was taken following medical advice and the directions of the Delhi High Court after concerns were raised over his health condition. His supporters had gathered at the protest site, where Wangchuk was staging a fast over demands related to alleged irregularities in examinations, including the NEET-UG. Wangchuk started the hunger strike in solidarity with the student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been seeking accountability on exam-related issues and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The latest protest has drawn renewed attention to a race spanning education reform, sustainable innovation and efforts to develop appropriate solutions in the Himalayan region.
A childhood marked by gaps in education
Born in 1966 near Alchi in Ladakh, Wangchuk’s early education followed an unconventional path. He did not attend formal school until the age of nine, as there were no local schools in his village. His mother introduced him to basic learning in his mother tongue. After his father joined the Jammu and Kashmir government in 1975, Wangchuk moved to Srinagar and later continued his education in Delhi at Vishesh Kendriya Vidyalaya. The change exposed him to the challenges faced by students adjusting to new languages and unfamiliar teaching systems. He completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, then known as Regional Engineering College, in 1987. He later studied Earth Architecture at the Craterre School of Architecture in Grenoble, France, where he developed an interest in sustainable building practices.
SECMOL and the effort to change the classrooms of Ladakh
After completing his engineering studies, Wangchuk returned to Ladakh and co-founded the Students’ Cultural and Educational Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988. The organization focused on students who were struggling within the conventional exam-based education system. SECMOL promoted practical learning methods, local knowledge systems and greater student participation in the learning process. In 1994, Wangchuk partnered with Operation New Hope, an initiative involving government departments, communities and civil society groups to improve the quality of education in Ladakh’s schools. The SECMOL campus near Leh became an example of its approach towards sustainable education. Built with passive solar architecture, the campus uses solar energy and traditional materials to maintain interior temperatures during extreme winter conditions.
From educational innovation to environmental solutions
Wangchuk later expanded his work to climate and sustainability challenges. In 2013, he introduced the Ice Stupa technique, which creates artificial glaciers to store winter water and release it during spring, helping farmers in water-scarce mountain regions. The innovation addressed seasonal water shortages faced by communities that depend on the timely availability of water for agriculture. He also developed solar-heated carbon-neutral tents designed to provide energy-efficient shelter in extremely cold high-altitude regions.
Building institutions for alternative learning
Over the years, Wangchuk worked on education policy and development initiatives in Ladakh. He served as editor of Ladakh’s print magazine, Ladags Melong, from 1993 to 2005 and contributed to the Ladakh Hill Council’s vision document, Ladakh 2025. He later founded the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), an institution focused on experiential learning and alternative educational models. He also launched FarmStays Ladakh, promoting community tourism through local families.
Recognition of education and innovation
Wangchuk’s work has received national and international recognition. He received the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2016 for the Ice Stupa project and was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018 for his contributions to educational reform and community-led development. His work also gained wider public attention after the release of the 2009 Hindi film 3 idiotswith many people linking him to the character Phunsukh Wangdu. However, actor Aamir Khan clarified in July 2026 that the belief that Wangchuk directly inspired the character was a misconception.
From engineer and educator to public activist
Wangchuk’s public role expanded after Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019. He raised concerns related to environmental protection, local representation and constitutional guarantees for the region. His recent hunger strike has put him at the center of discussions about exam reforms and student concerns. However, his decades-long career has remained closely linked to educational reform, sustainable engineering, and the development of solutions shaped by Ladakh’s geographic challenges.