Sonam Wangchuk

Will intensify agitation if govt doesn't meet demands, say Ladakh groups

A day after they held a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, groups from Ladakh on Thursday reiterated their demands for statehood and sixth schedule status for the Union Territory, threatening to intensify their agitation if the government does not listen to them. At a press conference here, environmental activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk said democracy has been compromised in Ladakh and the local people have no say in decision-making. Speaking on behalf of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, an amalgam of social, religious, and political groups from the two districts of Ladakh, Wangchuk stressed on the need to provide safeguards for the environmentally sensitive area, and involve locals in decision-making. "We wanted to become a Union Territory, but we never imagined it would be without a legislature. There is no participation of people anymore in how the budget allocated to us is spent. The Autonomous Hill Council has also been weakened, and the issue of statehood is of

Hundreds join Wangchuk on last day of his hunger strike on issues of Ladakh

Hundreds of people on Monday joined education reformist Sonam Wangchuk on the final day of his five-day hunger strike here in support of the demand for various safeguards for Ladakh, including extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union territory. Prominent among those who joined Wangchuk, an engineer whose life inspired a character in Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, were leaders of the Leh Apex Body of Peoples Movement for Sixth Schedule and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The apex body and KDA, a separate amalgam of socio-religious, political and youth organisations, are jointly spearheading a campaign to press for their four-point demands which include full statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule to the region. "Today is the last day of my symbolic carbon neutral climatic fast and I am thankful to the people for joining me. The fast was an attempt to invite the attention of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) so that our leaders can brief him about

Ladakh: Sonam Wangchuk says he's under house arrest, police deny charge

Engineer and innovator Sonam Wangchuk claims he has been placed under house arrest at his institute here, a charge denied by police which says he was only prevented from observing a five-day fast at the top of Khardung La. The education reformist, who inspired a pivotal character in the Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, had announced the hunger strike at the 18,380 feet high Khardung La from January 26 to invite the BJP-led Centre's attention to the demands of the people of Ladakh. These include extension of the sixth schedule of the Constitution and environmental protection form unchecked industrial and commercial expansion. In a tweet on Saturday, Wangchuk shared a copy of a bond, which among other things sought an undertaking that he will not make any comments, statements, public speech, hold or participate in public assemblies or any activity related to the recent events in Leh district. "CALLING LAWYERS OF THE WORLD!!! The #Ladakh UT administration wants me to sign this bond eve

Act now or Ladakh could become a barren land of disasters: Sonam Wangchuk

Wangchuk, who inspired 3 Idiots character, to go on fast; says Joshimath should be lesson for Ladakh

Innovator Sonam Wangchuk bags seventh Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios award

Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer whose life inspired a character in Bollywood blockbuster "3 Idiots", was on Sunday awarded the seventh Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios Award by former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. Instituted by the Sophia Society of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church, the award is given every alternate year in the memory of the first Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese and noted philosopher Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios. The award was presented during a function at St Thomas School in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Speaking at the event, Naidu hailed the role of social and religious organizations in ensuring a sustainable development of the world we live in. Born in Uleytokpo, near Alchi of Leh district, 56-year-old Wangchuk has also won Ramon Magsasay award for his community-driven reform of learning systems in remote northern India, thus improving the life opportunities of Ladakhi youth.

TMS Ep170: Ambuja and ACC, Sonam Wangchuk, IPO size, USFDA's Form 483

Why are top Indian companies vying for Ambuja & ACC? Can Sonam Wangchuk's innovation clear Delhi's air? Market volatility to make companies trim their IPO size? What is USFDA's Form 483? Answers here

How can Sonam Wangchuk's latest innovation clear Delhi's toxic air?

Innovator Sonam Wangchuk's carbon-neutral building stays warm in freezing conditions and can keep the air in Delhi-NCR clean. Business Standard's Nazia Iqbal caught up with him in Ladakh to know more

Innovator Sonam Wangchuk awarded honorary D.Litt degree by Symbiosis

I did what humanity demands people to do," said the engineer-turned-educationist who set up the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh

Meet Sonam Wangchuk, the man who inspired Aamir Khan's role in '3 Idiots'

Sonam Wangchuk makes artificial glaciers for Ladakh's desert villages