Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on July 18, 2026, after entering the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police said the move was taken based on medical advice and directions from the Delhi High Court after concerns were raised about his health. His supporters gathered at the protest site where Wangchuck was on a hunger strike against demands related to alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including NEET-UG. Wangchuk began a hunger strike in solidarity with the student-led Cockroach Jantar Party (CJP), which has been seeking accountability over exam-related issues and demanding the resignation of federal education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The latest protests have brought renewed attention to education reform, sustainable innovation and careers developing solutions tailored to the Himalayan region.
Childhood shaped by educational gaps
Wangchuk was born in 1966 near Alchi, Ladakh, and his early education took an unconventional path. As there was no local school in the village, he did not attend formal school until the age of nine. 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 at Vishesh Kendriya Vidyalaya School in Delhi. The transition exposed him to the challenges of students adapting to a new language and unfamiliar teaching system. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar (then known as Regional Engineering College) in 1987. He later studied earth architecture at the Crater School of Architecture in Grenoble, France, where he became interested in sustainable building practices.
SECMOL and efforts to transform classrooms in Ladakh
After completing his engineering studies, Wangchuk returned to Ladakh and co-founded the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988. The organization focuses on students who struggle in the traditional exam-based education system. SECMOL promotes practical learning methods, local knowledge systems and greater student involvement in the learning process. In 1994, Wangchuk participated in Operation New Hope, an initiative involving government departments, communities and civil society groups to improve the quality of education in Ladakh schools. The SECMOL campus near Leh became an example of his approach to sustainable education. The campus was built using passive solar architecture, using solar energy and traditional materials to maintain indoor temperatures during extreme winter conditions.
From education innovation to environmental solutions
Wangchuk later expanded his work to climate and sustainability challenges. In 2013, he introduced ice tower technology to create artificial glaciers to store water in winter and release the water in spring to help farmers in water-scarce mountainous areas. The innovation addresses seasonal water shortages faced by communities that rely on timely water for agriculture. He also developed solar-heated, carbon-neutral tents designed to provide energy-efficient shelter in extremely cold high-altitude areas.
Create alternative learning institutions
Wangchuck has worked on education policy and development initiatives in Ladakh for many years. From 1993 to 2005, he served as editor of the Ladakh print magazine Ladags Melong and contributed to the Ladakh Hill Assembly’s vision document Ladakh 2025. Later, he founded Himalayan Alternative Institute Ladakh (HIAL), an institution focused on experiential learning and alternative education models. He also launched FarmStays Ladakh to promote 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 the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018 for his contribution to education reform and community-led development. His work also gained wider public attention following the release of the 2009 Hindi film 3 idiotsmany people associate him with the character Phunsukh Wangdu. However, actor Aamir Khan clarified in July 2026 that the idea that Wangchuk directly inspired the character was a misunderstanding.
From engineers and educators to public activists
Wangchuk’s public role expanded after Ladakh became a federal territory in 2019. He raised concerns about environmental protection, local representation and constitutional guarantees in the region. His latest hunger strike has put him at the center of discussions about exam reform and student issues. Yet his decades-long career remains closely associated with education reform, sustainable engineering and developing solutions to Ladakh’s geographical challenges.
