Sonam Wangchuk: Leading the Charge for Ladakh’s Rights

Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent advocate for Ladakh, became the face of the hunger strike aimed at securing statehood for the region. An engineer, educator, and environmentalist, Wangchuk is central to the movement for the rights of the people of Ladakh. This movement gained momentum after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which altered the status of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the division of the state. Wangchuk’s primary aim is to bring Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which he believes will provide greater autonomy and protect the area’s unique cultural and environmental features. His efforts include a hunger strike conducted in 2020, which received national attention. Beyond his activism, Wangchuk is also recognized as the inspiration behind the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film *3 Idiots*, a comedy-drama directed by Rajkumar Hirani, co-written by Abhijat Joshi, and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film showcased his innovative educational approach.