Even behind the cold, stony walls of Jodhpur Central Jail, Sonam Wangchuk’s voice refuses to fall silent. The climate crusader, education reformer, and son of the Himalayan desert now lives as a prisoner under the National Security Act yet his spirit remains unconfined. From within his cell, Wangchuk has demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the recent killings in Leh, where four civilians were shot dead by security forces.
His message, conveyed through his elder brother Tsetan Dorje Leh and lawyer Mustafa Hazi, bears both calm resolve and deep pain. “I am physically and mentally fine,” he said, “but my heart breaks when I see innocent lives lost. The people of Ladakh wanted peace and justice, but they received bullets instead.”
In his message, Wangchuk expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families. “The grief of those who lost their loved ones is my own,” he said. “Every person responsible for these killings must face justice. The injured and arrested deserve medical care, dignity, and fair treatment under the law.” He went on to declare, “Until the truth behind this tragedy is revealed, I am willing to remain in jail because my freedom means nothing if my people are denied justice.”
Reaffirming his solidarity with the Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) two major organisations leading Ladakh’s movement for autonomy and environmental rights Wangchuk added, “Our land may be small, but our spirit is immense. We will not betray our mountains, our culture, or our environment.”
He urged his followers to continue their struggle through peace and non-violence, invoking the Gandhian path. “Our fight must be grounded in truth, compassion, and unity. Violence can never bring lasting peace only love, patience, and truth can.”
Though confined within prison walls, Wangchuk’s mind still seems to wander among the icy peaks of Ladakh, where he once taught lessons of sustainability and conscience. His students still call him “The Teacher of Ladakh” a man who didn’t just teach science, but also the strength of moral courage.
Today, his message resonates across Ladakh. People have begun to raise their voices online, demanding justice and his release. “You can imprison a teacher,” one supporter wrote, “but you can’t imprison his ideas.”
The people of Ladakh now wait for justice, for truth, and for the day when Sonam Wangchuk will once again breathe the free air of his beloved mountains.
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