Sonam Wangchuk, the innovator who inspired Aamir Khan's role in '3 Idiots', is on a 21-day fast in Ladakh. Here's why

Sonam Wangchuk and the other locals have been residing at Leh's NDS Stadium and have been living there by braving the cold during the nights, when temperatures have gone down to as low as -16 degree Celsius.

Sonam Wangchuk, the engineer and innovator who was the inspiration behind Aamir Khan's character "Phunsukh Wangdu" in the iconic Bollywood movie "3 Idiots" went on a 21-day fast starting Tuesday, March 5, a News18 report said.

Wangchuk has emerged as a key figure in highlighting and emphasising the climate change issues in the Himalayas, especially in Ladakh. The fast will go on in phases until the centre accepts Wangchuk's demand of implementing the Sixth Schedule and offering Ladakh statehood.

Wangchuk and the other locals have been residing at Leh's NDS Stadium and have been living there by braving the cold during the nights, when temperatures have gone down to as low as -16 degree Celsius.

4th DAY OF #CLIMATEFAST IN LADAKH I urge you to spread the word as mainstream Indian media cares more about a Seema Haider than the crucial seema (border) area of Ladakh You can also join #FriendsofLadakh group n organise one day #ClimateFast in your own city to support Ladakh pic.twitter.com/g7EGRagF1s

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) March 9, 2024

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2020 Local Hill council elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party had promised a Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.

"When it became a Union Territory in 2019, the issue before the people was how can we now safeguard these mountains from business sharks, mining lobbies, and industrial lobbies. Luckily, the Government of India and the BJP stepped in," Wangchuk told the crowd, who had gathered in thousands.

Wangchuk added that he was following the principle of Mahatma Gandhi, in trying to resolve the prevailing situation in a non-violent manner and took the pain upon himself to ensure that the government took notice and acted quickly.

"I am sitting on a 21-day fast because this happens to be the longest duration Mahatma Gandhi fasted for during the freedom struggle. I want to follow the peaceful path of Mahatma Gandhi, where we inflict on ourselves and don’t take hostages. We take pain on ourselves so that the government and policymakers take notice and act in time," he said.

Several rounds of talks have been held in the national capitals between representatives of Ladakh and the Union Home Ministry, with the most recent discussions not going down too well with the former.

Representatives of two bodies- Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB)- have also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but all the parties involved have failed to come up with an amicable solution so far.