Who Is Sonam Wangchuk? Three Idiots Muse, Ice Stupa Pioneer, Ladakh's Champion & Abhijeet Dipke's CJP Ally

As thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, June 6, for Abhijeet Dipke-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk made his way to the demonstration later in the afternoon. Wangchuk is no stranger to national attention, nearly two decades ago, his work in education reform drew widespread notice when Aamir Khan's Three Idiots was seen as inspired by his life.

Fast forward to 2026, Wangchuk has worn many hats, a prominent figure in Ladakh's ongoing demand for statehood, a climate activist known for the Ice Stupa project, and a voice that has resonated with India's GenZs. His presence at the CJP protest adds a familiar face to a movement that has largely been driven by students and young professionals demanding accountability in the country's examination and recruitment systems.

Who Is Sonam Wangchuk?

Sonam Wangchuk is a Ladakhi engineer, climate activist and an education reformer. Highly inspired by Gandhian philosophy, Sonam Wangchuk had urged Indians to come in large numbers to Jantar Mantar for the protest and put forward the protest peacefully.

Sonam Wangchuk: The Real-Life Phusukh Wangdu From 3 Idiots?

In 2006, Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots became a blockbuster and was critically acclaimed for its take on India's education system and rot-learning. The movie's main character, Phunsukh Wangdu (played by Aamir Khan) was seen to have been inspired from Sonam Wangchuk.

Sonam Wangchuk's SECMOL in Ladakh

He had founded SECMOL in Ladakh, which is a non-government organisation. The Students' Educational and Cultural Movement in Ladakh (SECMOL) is an organisation founded in 1988. Its main focus was to teach students with experiments. The students at SECMOL lean by experimenting.

Re-inventing Ice Stupa

Sonam Wangchuk also re-invented ice stupa and made it popular across the region. Ice stupa is a glacier grafting technique that creates artificial glaciers which is used for storing winter water in the form of onical shaped ice heaps. It helps in solving the problem of water scarcity in summer.

Sonam Wangchuk's Ladakh Protest, Arrest Under NSA

Wangchuk's association with CJP protest came months after he was released from jail in March. In 2025, Sonam Wangchuk was detained by hundreds of policemen under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA). His arrest came after a protest in Leh for statehood turned violent.

Why Sonam Wangchujk Is Joining CJP Protest?

In his latest video, released on Instagram, Sonam Wangchuk credited Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's remarks that eventually led him to associate with CJP.
"I am myself surprised that within just a few days, my connection with the Cockroach Janta Party has grown so deep, and the credit for this does not go to me. The credit goes to Ladakh's LG VK Saxena," said Wangchuk.

"In Delhi, I had casually mentioned to a journalist that CJP seems to me like a creative expression of the younger generation, and the government should take their message rather than killing the messenger. And then, a few days later, LG Sahab invited us for tea, and after that, such news stories were published," he added while while referring to VK Saxena's claim that he was "unsure" of the CJP's origins.

"I waited one day, waited two days, and on the third day I had to respond again because the matter was spreading. And because of this, I then came in contact with CJP and Dipke ji, and meeting all of them, I felt that these are such straightforward, pure-hearted, honest, and patriotic people," he added.

CJP Protest At Jantar Mantar

Thousands of youngsters and Indians are protesting at Jantar Mantar since morning to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest is led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. In his recent statement, Dipke said that the protests will be held across the nation if Dharmendra Pradhan doesn't resign by 5 pm today.