Sonam Wangchuk, a renowned Ladakhi environmental activist, entered the 15th day of his hunger strike on Sunday. The protest was met with glaring attention from the other side of India-ranging from religious leaders to the media. Shankaracharya visited Wangchuk at the protest site in Martyrs Park, Leh, “to extend his support towards the cause”. Wangchuk has done a salt and water fast seeking sterner environmental protection for Ladakh, a region whose ecology is on the brink due to uncurbed development and climatic aberrations.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike Garners Support from Shankaracharya and Ladakh Villagers
A big push to Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite fast came in the form of a visit by the Jagadguru Shankaracharya, a highly revered spiritual figure who met with him at the protest venue. His blessing has further diluted the legitimacy of the cause and made Ladakh’s environment preservation an issue for religious communities.
Sonam Wangchuk thanked the Shankaracharya on social media platform X. He wrote, “On the 15th day of my fast, Jagadguru Shankaracharya ji visited the anshan (hunger strike) site at Martyrs Park in Leh to support the movement,” underlining growing solidarity for his protest. He also noted Ladakh’s battle for environment protection was not only regional but had engaged people in other parts of India across their geography and faith.
15th DAY ON SALT & WATER
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) October 20, 2024
On the 15th day of fast Jagadguru Shankaracharya ji visited the anshan place at martyrs park in Leh to support the movement.
Villages in Ladakh observed fast from those bordering China & Pakistan to the city of Leh.
In Delhi 100s of people came to join… pic.twitter.com/4C52OfzchO
Ladakh Villages and National Attention
Sonam Wangchuk’s fast is symbolic of protesting the difficulties Ladakh’s delicate ecosystem is facing. “The situation is bad,” he believes, “climate change and unbridled development pose a risk to this environment.” His call has inspired villagers not only in Leh but in far-flung villages at the borders with China and Pakistan, who have observed fasts in solidarity.
This grassroot support has risen with the feeling that the movement has become much stronger,” Wangchuk said. Villages in Ladakh took a fast, from those bordering China and Pakistan to the city of Leh, said Wangchuk. His message didn’t forget this important factor, that this issue affects a whole region.
The cause of the environmental activist has received attention from other parts of India. Hundreds of supporters had gathered in New Delhi to show their support for Wangchuk’s fast. According to Wangchuk, however, the peaceful demonstrators were detained by authorities.
“In Delhi, hundreds of people came to join us, but they were forcibly bundled into buses and detained,” he wrote in a post. Still, in the face of such opposing forces, Wangchuk’s movement continues to gain steam with growing numbers of individuals raising their voices for Ladakh’s environmental future.
The Focus of the Protest
Sonam Wangchuk’s protest focuses on the necessity of urgent action against the reversible irreversibility in Ladakh to support its environment. The environmental context in Ladakh, with landscapes that are as breathtakingly beautiful as they are fragile, has been under several adverse impacts of climate change-better melting of the glaciers, inadequate water supply, and increasing temperatures.
Sonam Wangchuk, a votary of sustainable development, insists that the government ought to implement reforms that would conserve the unique ecology of Ladakh.
Among some of the key demands that Wangchuk has put forth is getting Ladakh placed under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which is perceived to grant special protections to tribal areas as reservations so that the available resources and cultures are protected. The Sixth Schedule would constitute more significant powers to regulate land, resources, and development for Ladakh’s local councils, according to Wangchuk, that is important for the future of the region.
Increasing National Attention
The fast by Wangchuk Ladakh has put the environmental crisis across Ladakh in the nation’s spotlight. During the last two weeks of his fast, messages of support came from civil society groups, environmental activists, and now, from religious leaders too. His protest is not merely to raise it in the public eye but also to energize a response from government and public alike.
The Shankaracharya visit is an important development-it adds a moral and spiritual dimension to the movement. Religious leaders’ endorsement indicates the protection of the environment is a global concern and transcends any division by politics and geography.
The Future Ahead
In this regard, the days going by in Wangchuk’s fast are gradually mounting pressure on the government to address Ladakh’s environmental concerns. Wangchuk desires sustainable development for this region and has been asking the government to take a holistic approach in developing Ladakh, while progressively promoting economy without compromising the ecological features of the region. Wangchuk’s protest has driven home the urgency of adopting such policies that ensure Ladakh is protected from further degradation for the future beneficiaries.
Wangchuk’s fast is now entering its 15th day and symbolizes a very powerful struggle for the future of Ladakh. With growing national attention and support from Shankaracharya and other influential leaders, the movement for environmental preservation in Ladakh is shaping up to be unstoppable. Whether the government takes the calls for change tangibly remains to be seen.
Sonam Wangchuk continues his salt-and-water fasting, still believing that his cause will eventually rise above silence and start to gain momentum. A sustainable future for Ladakh seems like a long-held determination for him.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court declares all migrants To Arrive Assam after March 1971 Illegal
