It’s 21st Day of Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike
The Environment Activist is Calling for Ladakh’s Statehood, ‘Nature Representatives’ in Parliament
Newsreel Asia Insight #172
March 26, 2024
The hunger strike by environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh is a call for legislative and ecological reform in India. Wangchuk, who was on the 21st day of his fast on March 26, is advocating for Ladakh’s statehood and “nature representatives” in Parliament so that ecological concerns have a voice in the country’s highest policymaking body.
Ladakh, which was part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir until 2019, has encountered numerous critical challenges that impact the well-being of its inhabitants and hinder its progress and development, despite its strategic significance and rich cultural legacy. The residents of this region are apprehensive that the central government’s decision to designate it as a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019 will exacerbate these issues.
Wangchuk, an engineer and education reformer, has been fasting to demand the implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in Ladakh, aiming to provide autonomy to the region’s indigenous tribes. His protest, which began on March 6 at an altitude of 3,500 meters in sub-zero temperatures, seeks to address the ecological and administrative neglect of the Himalayan region. Wangchuk’s movement calls for statehood for Ladakh and stresses the importance of local governance and environmental preservation.
Wangchuk draws historical parallels to advocate for his idea of “nature representatives,” likening it to past movements for inclusive voting rights, as reported by The Tribune. His argument is that just as rights expanded to include women and people of all colours in the past, nature too should have a voice in legislative processes.
“The idea may shock you, but let me put it this way… in early 1900s, the idea of giving voting rights to women was shocking…. In 1920, the U.S. brought in a law for women’s voting rights,” he was quoted as saying. “Today, it’s just unthinkable that a black person, because of his colour, would not be allowed to vote. So, we take the idea of inclusion to the next level and give nature a voice through nature representatives. Tomorrow, it might be unthinkable for us to think that nature was never represented in our Parliaments of the past.”
The activist also referred to the disproportionate representation in Parliament, pointing out that while Delhi, with a smaller area, has seven MPs, Ladakh, much larger in size, has only one. This, according to Wangchuk, overlooks the vast natural landscapes and ecological significance of regions like Ladakh.
Wangchuk’s demands include separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, job opportunities for locals and a Public Service Commission for the districts in Ladakh. He also criticises the government’s imposition of large-scale industrial projects, like the 13-gigawatt initiative, without local consultation, which he argues, threatens the region’s fragile ecosystem, as reported by The Times of India.
Despite his deteriorating health, Wangchuk has continued the protest, with local communities ready to undertake hunger strikes in rotation to sustain the movement. He believes in the strategic and ecological sensitivity of Ladakh, arguing that its governance should be in the hands of local representatives to prevent the region from being treated as a mere colony, as reported by Down to Earth.
Ladakh has harsh and rugged terrain, with extreme weather conditions. Therefore, its administrative needs include formulating policies that address its specific environmental conservation needs, promote sustainable tourism and build infrastructure resilient to climate change.
Ladakh has a rich Buddhist culture, and therefore, it requires greater authority to preserve and promote its unique cultural heritage, including language, traditions and religious practices, ensuring that development initiatives are aligned with local values and ways of life.
Further, it is located at the crossroads of important international borders with China and Pakistan. Its strategic importance cannot be overstated. Statehood could afford Ladakh a stronger voice in national discussions on border security, infrastructure development for strategic mobility and policies that impact its geopolitical standing.
Despite its strategic importance and tourism potential, Ladakh remains one of the least developed regions in India.
At a recent webinar, where Wangchuk was joined by experts who support his cause, discussed the broader implications of Ladakh’s struggle, linking it to wider environmental and democratic concerns in the Himalayan region, according to Down to Earth. Speakers like Medha Patkar and Om Prakash Bhuraita drew attention to the need for a new development paradigm that prioritises ecological sustainability and local governance.
The discourse extended to the unique biodiversity of Ladakh, with Tsewang Namgail of the Snow Leopard Conservancy Trust emphasising the ecological interdependence of the region’s wildlife and its critical role in maintaining water security for a significant portion of the world’s population.
At the webinar, the movement for Ladakh’s statehood and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule was portrayed as a national concern, with implications for the country’s environmental and democratic health.