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, 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.
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.