Kargil, Engineer and education reformist Sonam Wangchuk, known for his work that inspired a popular film character, has embarked on a 21-day hunger strike in the region of Ladakh, with climate change awareness and regional rights at the core of his protest.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Wangchuk’s fast, which started on March 5, is part of his efforts to highlight the environmental impacts of climate change in the Himalayas and advocate for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule to grant statehood to Ladakh. He has stationed himself at Leh’s NDS Stadium, enduring sub-zero temperatures that drop to -16 degrees Celsius at night.

His advocacy for sustainable practices and regional autonomy has positioned him as a key figure in the region’s push for environmental and political recognition. Wangchuk’s fast is also a manifestation of Ladakh’s broader campaign for greater self-governance and preservation of its unique environmental and cultural heritage.

The initiative calls for urgent attention to the vulnerabilities of Ladakh’s environment, and by extension, those of its people, demanding substantive action from the Indian government. This move by Wangchuk spotlights the intersection of environmental concerns with the pursuit of political rights for communities in Ladakh.