Sonam Wangchuk Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on July 18, 2026, after his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its 21st day.
Delhi Police said the move was carried out following medical advice and directions from 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 linked to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including NEET-UG.
Wangchuk began the hunger strike in solidarity with the student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been seeking accountability over examination-related issues and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The latest protest has brought renewed attention to a career spanning education reform, sustainable innovation and efforts to develop solutions suited to the Himalayan region.
A childhood shaped 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 native language.
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 shift exposed him to challenges faced by students adapting to new languages and unfamiliar teaching systems.
He completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, then known as Regional Engineering College, in 1987.
He later studied Earthen Architecture at the Craterre School of Architecture in Grenoble, France, where he developed an interest in sustainable construction practices.
SECMOL and the effort to change Ladakh’s classrooms After completing his engineering studies, Wangchuk returned to Ladakh and co-founded the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988.
The organisation focused on students who struggled within the conventional examination-based education system.
SECMOL promoted practical learning methods, local knowledge systems and greater student participation in the learning process.
In 1994, Wangchuk was associated with 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 towards sustainable education.
Built using passive solar architecture, the campus uses solar energy and traditional materials to maintain indoor temperatures during extreme winter conditions.
From education innovation to environmental solutions Wangchuk later expanded his work towards 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 dependent on timely water availability 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 policies 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 education models.
He also launched FarmStays Ladakh, promoting community-based tourism through local families.
Recognition for 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 honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018 for his contributions to education reform and community-led development.
His work also gained wider public attention after the release of the 2009 Hindi film 3 Idiots, with 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 safeguards for the region.
His recent hunger strike has placed him at the centre of discussions around examination reforms and student concerns.
However, his decades-long career has remained closely linked with education reform, sustainable engineering and developing solutions shaped by Ladakh’s geographical challenges.
