Sonam Wangchuk

Sustainable buildings

Wangchuk has helped design and construct several passive solar mud buildings in mountain regions such as Ladakh, Sikkim, and Nepal.^[29][30][31] These buildings, often constructed with locally sourced earthen materials, employ principals of orientation towards the Sun, thermal mass, thermal insulation, and solar gain to reduce conventional heating requirements in cold climates,^[32] and help maintain warmer temperatures during cold winters without active temperature control.^[29][2] The SECMOL campus is built using rammed earth technique, and utilises passive heating. The classrooms, meeting halls, and student accommodations is largely powered by solar energy.^[29][2] It won the International Terra Award for the best building in July 2016 at the 12th World Congress on Earthen Architecture in Lyon.^[33]

Ice Stupa

In late 2013, Wangchuk built an artificial glacier using the "Ice Stupa" technique developed by him. These cone-shaped ice heaps were used to store stream water during the winters and release the water during late spring as they start melting, which is used for agriculture.^[34][35] He developed this solution while researching to resolve the water crisis faced by the farmers of Ladakh during the months of April and May before the natural glacial melt waters start flowing.^[36][37][38] In February 2014, he built a two-storey prototype, which could store roughly 150,000 L (33,000 imp gal; 40,000 US gal) of water.^[39]

In late 2016, Wangchuk was invited by the president of Pontresina, a municipality in the Engadine valley, Switzerland to build Ice Stupas to add to their winter tourism attractions.^[40] In October 2016, Wangchuk and his team travelled to the Swiss Alps to work on building the first Ice Stupa in Europe along with Swiss authorities.^[41][42] Several ice stupas were built in Ladakh later,^[43] including a 10 ft (3.0 m)-high ice stupa built by local sculptors in Ladakh in February 2018.^[44]

Siphon technique

In 2015, a landslide blocked the course of the Phugtal river in Zanskar and resulted in the formation of a large lake, which became a threat to the downstream population. Wangchuk proposed to use a siphon technique to drain the lake instead of the planned blasting of the lake.^[45] His suggestion was not accepted,^[45] and on 7 May 2015, the lake burst into a flash flood which destroyed several bridges, buildings, and inundated fields downstream.^[46]

In 2016, Wangchuk proposed the idea as a means of disaster mitigation at high-altitude glacial lakes. He was invited by the Government of Sikkim to apply the siphon technique for another dangerous lake in the state. In September 2016, he led a three-week expedition to the South Lhonak Lake in North-West Sikkim, which had been declared dangerous for the last few years.^[47] His team camped for two weeks at the lake, installing the first phase of a siphoning system to drain the lake to a safer level until other measures were taken up.^[48][49]

Mobile solar-powered tents

In February 2021, Wangchuk developed solar-powered tents for the Indian Army. Each such tent was capable of accommodating ten soldiers. According to Wangchuk, he came up with the idea when he learnt that around 50,000 Indian soldiers were working in cold weather conditions in high-altitude areas.^[50][51] The tents trap the heat energy during the daytime and utilises it to keep them warm during night.^[52]

Ladakh autonomy protests

On 26 January 2023, to highlight the effects of climate change on the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh and to demand its protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, Wangchuk attempted to go on a hunger strike at the Khardung La pass. While Wangchuk claimed that he was placed under a house arrest, the Ladakh police denied the charges and stated that he had not been given permission to go to Khardung La due to cold temperatures (less than −40 °C (−40 °F)) being unsuitable for a fast.^[59]

In March 2024, he began a 21-day hunger strike demanding statehood for Ladakh,^[60][61] and constitutional safeguards for the protection of Ladakh from industrial and mining lobbies.^[62] During the protests, a widely circulated video alleged that Wangchuk had expressed support for China. However, Wangchuk stated that the clip omitted the context over which the remarks were made, and they were intended as a warning about the consequences of alienating border communities. While he denied making any statement in support of China, he stated that "When China invades, the Ladakhis stop them with their lives. But if the Indian government doesn't do anything for us, then the next time they arrive, we will not stop them; we will show them the way. Why should we give up our lives when there is no protection for us?".^[63][64][65]

On 30 September 2024, he began a march by foot from Ladakh to Delhi to press on his demands. Wangchuk and his supporters were detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu border on 1 October and were released the next day.^[66]

Delhi protests

In May 2026, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was formed, in response to the remarks made by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, who used the terms "parasites" and "cockroaches" to describe a section of unemployed youth while reprimanding a lawyer over a plea.^[81] Wangchuk supported the CJP and described himself as an "honorary cockroach".^[82]

On 28 June 2026, Wangchuk went on a hunger strike in support of the CJP-organised protests at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, over the NEET 2026 Paper leak and CBSE On-Screen Marking irregularity.^[83][84] He was supported by several prominent people including former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, who compared his hunger strike with the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement and demanded the central government to start talks with Wangchuk.^[85] On 18 July, acting on the orders of the Delhi High Court, Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site by the police and taken to Safdarjung Hospital.^[86] He ended his hunger strike after 26 days, on 23 July 2026, after the government assured him no legal action would be taken against protesters rallying at Janta Mantar site, stating that he also wanted to avert "possible violence". He had earlier stated that he had lost 11 kg (24 lb) due to the fasting.^[87][88]