‘All Is Not Well’: Man Who Inspired 3 Idiots Tells PM Modi In 'Ladakh Ke Mann Ki Baat'

Sonam Wangchuk, the social reformist from Ladakh, whose life story inspired the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots, said that "all is not well in Ladakh" and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra a Modi to provide protection to the Union Territory. He suggested the extinction of nearly 2/3rd of the glaciers in the region.

Urged PM to protect Ladakh?

Talking to ANI on Sunday, Sonam Wangchuk stressed that if the carelessness continued and the Ladakh is refrained from being provided protection from the industries, the glaciers here will extinct, thus creating enormous problems due to water scarcity in India and its neighborhood.

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"If measures are not taken, the industries, tourism, and commerce will continue to flourish in Ladakh and will eventually finish it. Recent studies from Kashmir University and other research organizations have concluded that glaciers in Leh-Ladakh will finish nearly to its 2/3rd if they are not properly taken care of. A study by Kashmir Univesity has found that the glaciers surrounded by highways and human activities are melting at a comparatively faster rate," Wangchuk said.

Sharing a video titled, “All is not well in Ladakh. Ladakh ki mann ki baat," the real life Phunsukh Wangdu - the character played by Amir Khan, said that Ladakh is facing dire concerns. He also mentioned the 6th Schedule of the Constitution and the protests surrounding the same.

'Safeguard Ladakh's autonomy'

In his 13-minute-long video, the social reformist said that Ladakh has nearly 95 per cent of tribal population while the Constitution seeks 50 per cent of tribal population in an area for applicability of 6th Schedule. He added that anticipations were made that Ladakh would soon be included and minister Arjun Munda had also given assurances. He further reminded of BJP's poll promise to safeguard Ladakh's autonomy under the 6th Schedule in its manifesto.

Further, stressing the need for the adoption of sustainable development, the engineer-turned-education reformer appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the protection of Ladakh and other Himalayan regions from "industrial exploitation". It will help safeguard the lives and employment of the people, he added.

5-day climate fast

Sonam Wangchuk said that he will hold a five-day fast, starting from Republic Day, at the Khardung La pass. Notably, It is located at 18,000 ft and has extreme weather condition as the temperature drops to minus 40 degrees Celsius. He appealed to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to participate in discussions about Ladakh.

"If I survive, I will see you," he concludes the video. Today, he said that his test run for the climate fast was successful as he survived at minus 20°C, inching closer to his goal of observing fast at a location where temperature drops to minus 40 °C.

?The Ladakh-based engineer is known for setting up his innovative school, the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), whose campus runs on solar energy and uses no fossil fuels for cooking, lighting, or heating. He set up the SECMOL in 1988 with the aim of supporting Ladakhi children and youth and training the students whom the system termed as failures.

In 1994, Wangchuk launched Operation New Hope to bring reforms to the government school system.