Sonam Wangchukthe engineer, educator and innovator who emerged as a prominent figure in the CJP-led student protest, has been released from Medanta Hospital after weeks of treatment. Soon after its download, he posted a video, announcing his plans to first stop at Rajghat to honor Mahatma Gandhibefore returning to his home in Ladakh. His admission to the hospital came after a 26-day hunger strike that he carried out as part of the CJP protest, one aimed at pushing for comprehensive examination reforms and demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on a series of paper leak controversies.
Sonam Wangchuk’s sustainable mud house in Ladakh
According to the Indian Express, about three years ago, Wangchuk took viewers on a tour of his sustainable home in Ladakh in a video with Tribal Girl. Free of any concrete, the house is built of mud, combining traditional, centuries-old construction methods with modern interiors and eco-design touches. Wangchuk has a soft spot for calling it his “tribal house,” inspired by the very material used to build it. “We often give up on traditional ways of making homes. Mud houses are now almost unheard of. However, I have kept the best of both worlds. I have taken what was good in the past and improved it with today’s technology,” he said.
Sonam Wangchuk on tradition and passive solar heating
Even with modern furnishings inside, the interiors remain firmly connected to Ladakhi tradition. He explained, “They are all low seats, connected to our tradition. Normally, people in Ladakh like to sit like this.” Mud walls also serve a functional purpose, keeping the home naturally cool during the summer months. Come winter, instead of relying on firewood, Wangchuk relies on passive solar technology for heat. He described how one particular wall, the “black wall,” has water bottles built into it, which absorb heat from the winter sun throughout the day and slowly release that heat into the house once the sun goes down. As he said, “While the walls, windows and glass are modern, the technology used is traditional.”
Waterless Kitchen and Toilet Design by Sonam Wangchuk
The house showcases a wooden roof, mud walls and modern interiors that work in harmony with its overall sustainable design. This same philosophy, which combines tradition with contemporary life, also extends to the kitchen. Designed as an open space with an adjoining dining table, the layout was guided by a simple idea: “The idea was to ensure that the cook never feels isolated,” he said. Wangchuk has also incorporated traditional waterless sanitation methods into the toilet, eliminating water altogether and systematically collecting human waste to be composted and used as fertilizer.
Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and its outcome
On June 28, Wangchuk took the CJP-led student protest to a new level by announcing that he would go on an indefinite hunger strike. He said he will not stop until the Education Minister resigns and real changes are made to the exam system. After going 26 days without food, he ended his fast on Thursday. This happened in front of BJP president JP Nadda after he was promised that his main demands would be met.Dharmendra Pradhan has since resigned as Education Minister. The government has also set up a special fast-track court to handle paper leak cases quickly. Along with this, a task force has been formed to suggest ways to make the country’s examination system stronger and better.
Link from Sonam Wangchuk at 3 Idiots’ Ranch
Before this recent wave of protests, Sonam Wangchuk was primarily recognized as the real-life inspiration behind Rancho, the beloved ‘3 Idiots’ character. For years, the film’s producers insisted they had no knowledge of Wangchuk while crafting the story, a claim that has faced scrutiny, especially given that Aamir Khan He crossed paths with Wangchuk at an awards function in Mumbai months before filming began. Interestingly, Wangchuk himself has never been particularly interested in being tied to the blockbuster. He has shared in the past that after the film’s release, he reached out to the creators pointing out the parallels between his own life and the character, but never got a response.