Sonam Wangchuk (born 1 September 1966) is an Indian engineer, educator, innovator and climate activist from Ladakh. He is known for reforming education in Ladakh through the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) and for inventing the “Ice Stupa” artificial glaciers. His life is widely said to have inspired the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film 3 Idiots. In recent years he has led campaigns for constitutional safeguards and statehood for Ladakh.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Sonam Wangchuk |
| Born | 1 September 1966, Uleytokpo, near Alchi, Ladakh, India |
| Age | 60 |
| Profession | Engineer, educator, innovator, activist |
| Education | BTech in Mechanical Engineering, NIT Srinagar |
| Founded | SECMOL (1988); Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh |
| Known for | Ice Stupas, education reform, Ladakh movement |
| Spouse | Gitanjali Angmo |
| Awards | Ramon Magsaysay Award (2018), Rolex Award for Enterprise (2016) |
Early Life
Wangchuk was born in a remote village in Ladakh with no school, and his mother taught him at home until he was nine. His father, Sonam Wangyal, was a politician and later a state minister. Wangchuk struggled at school in Srinagar because of a language barrier. He later studied mechanical engineering at NIT Srinagar, funding his studies by tutoring.
Career
Troubled by the high failure rate of Ladakhi students, Wangchuk co-founded SECMOL in 1988. Its campus near Leh, built with passive solar design, teaches practical, locally relevant skills. Through Operation New Hope, run with the government and villagers, SECMOL helped raise pass rates in Ladakh’s state exams dramatically.
In 2013–14 Wangchuk built the first “Ice Stupa”, a cone-shaped artificial glacier that stores winter water for farmers to use in spring. The idea won him the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2016. He also designed solar-heated shelters for soldiers at high altitude and founded the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh.
After Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, Wangchuk joined local groups demanding statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. He led climate fasts and a march to Delhi. In September 2025, after violent protests in Leh, he was detained under the National Security Act and held in Jodhpur jail. The government revoked the detention in March 2026, citing the need for dialogue, and he was released after about six months. He has since called for talks on Ladakh’s demands.
Personal Life
Wangchuk is married to Gitanjali Angmo, co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh. She challenged his detention in the Supreme Court. He is a popular speaker and uses social media to promote sustainable living.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Sonam Wangchuk born?
Sonam Wangchuk was born on 1 September 1966 in Uleytokpo, near Alchi, Ladakh, India.
What is Sonam Wangchuk known for?
Known for: Ice Stupas, education reform, Ladakh movement.
What honours has Sonam Wangchuk received?
Ramon Magsaysay Award (2018), Rolex Award for Enterprise (2016).
