Sonam Wangchuk, a renowned climate activist whose life inspired the character of Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 film ‘3 Idiots’, has been hospitalised after completing a 21-day fast demanding statehood for Ladakh and the protection of the fragile Himalayan ecology.
Wangchuk, who began his hunger strike on March 6, was admitted to the SNM Hospital in Leh for observation. In a video shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “I’m in very good care with the best doctors and nurses at Leh’s SNM hospital. One leg ends, new one begins.”
UNDER OBSERVATION AT LEH HOSPITAL
I'm in very good care with best doctors n nurses at Leh's SNM hospital.
One leg ends, new one begins.
From today women's groups start their fast, next it's youth bodies, then monks & nuns, then the elderly n so on…#SaveLadakh… pic.twitter.com/k8rW3ry5Tt
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 27, 2024
Prior to his hospitalisation, Wangchuk announced that 7,000 people had gathered to witness the end of the first leg of his fast. “It was the end of the 1st leg of my fast. By the way, 21 days was the longest fast Gandhi ji kept,” he wrote in an X post. The 57-year-old activist’s hunger strike was aimed at drawing attention to the demand for statehood for Ladakh and the preservation of the region’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem. When he commenced his fast on March 6, Wangchuk had stated that he would continue for 21 days, with the possibility of extending it “till death.”
In his recent video message, Wangchuk revealed that the next phase of the movement would involve various groups taking over the fast relay. “From today, women’s groups start their fast, next it’s youth bodies, then monks and nuns, then the elderly, and so on…” he said, indicating a sustained effort to amplify the cause.
Wangchuk’s peaceful protest has garnered widespread attention and support, as he continues to advocate for the recognition of Ladakh’s unique environmental and cultural needs. The hospitalisation marks the end of the initial stage of his hunger strike, but the movement is set to continue with the involvement of different sections of the community.
As the struggle for statehood and environmental protection in Ladakh gains momentum, Sonam Wangchuk’s determination and the collective efforts of the region’s residents have brought the issues into the national spotlight, prompting discussions about the region’s future and the preservation of its delicate ecosystem.
