“My husband should be released… He is innocent…” More than a hundred days have passed, but the wait is still far from over. Dr. Geetanjali Angmo is waging a lonely struggle for the release of her husband, Sonam Wangchuk. Full of strong will, Dr. Angmo is unwilling to give up. Patience and unwavering determination remain her greatest strength during this difficult ordeal. Her unwavering faith in God, along with this unwavering faith, gives her the strength to continue the struggle to the end. This struggle has been long and arduous, running from court to court, date after date, and a wait with no end in sight. In September last year, Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist turned symbol of the people’s movement, was arrested. He was jailed on charges of anti-national activities and alleged links to Pakistan. As a child, Sonam Wangchuk was even called “retarded” because he couldn’t understand the language taught in his school. His appearance was also different from other children. He was only nine years old then. After his father was sworn in as a minister, he had to travel from Ladakh to Srinagar. The journey that followed became part of history. Renowned for innovating solar-powered mud buildings and “ice stupas,” Wangchuk also developed solar-powered tents for the Indian Army to combat harsh weather in high-altitude areas.
Today, the same man, recognized as an education reformer, environmental activist, and innovator, is at the center of controversy. Following the violence in Ladakh that left four people dead, the government filed a case against him under the National Security Act and imprisoned him. According to the government, authorities allege that Wangchuk made inflammatory speeches and incited protesters, leading to a violent situation. With or without provocation, police opened fire, resulting in loss of life and property and numerous injuries. While Sonam Wangchuk remains imprisoned in Jodhpur jail, his wife, Dr. Geetanjali J. Angmo, has been running from pillar to post seeking her husband’s release. In a detailed interview, she stated that “the government and the Union of India are deliberately employing delaying tactics.” Calling it a “straightforward and clear case,” Angmo says her fight is not just personal, but for the future of Ladakh. “Sonam has been detained to suppress her voice,” she said. Beyond Wangchuk’s case, Angmo alleges that the government has created an atmosphere of fear and terror in Ladakh, leaving people afraid to speak out. “Anyone who expresses their opinion is taken into police custody, interrogated, and even arrested.” There is an atmosphere of fear in the entire area.
“Various strategies are being adopted to silence the Ladakhis,” she said emotionally. Dr. Geetanjali Angmo, herself an active social activist, has worked extensively in the field of education and community development and has been honored by the government for her achievements. She is the founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives in Ladakh. This institute offers an alternative model of higher education, taking into account the unique challenges of communities living in mountainous regions. Additionally, Dr. Geetanjali Angmo has also done significant work in the field of healthcare and public welfare. In her personal life, she is a follower of the philosophy of Maharishi Aurobindo and has been deeply influenced by the Vedas and Upanishads. Angmo accuses the government of failing to fulfill and betraying its promises to the people of Ladakh, especially regarding the Sixth Schedule and granting full statehood. She says the government has completely failed to address this issue and has handled it in a very haphazard manner.
“Instead of engaging with those who are raising legitimate demands, But they are being detained,” she says. She says the government should clarify to the public the reasons for denying the Sixth Schedule and statehood. Raising the question, “Is there no solution to this?” she reiterated that the government must take a swift decision and grant the people the rights that are legally theirs.
Dr. Angmo pursued all possible avenues before approaching the court to secure her husband’s release, but her efforts proved futile. Throughout this period, she faced pressure and harassment from all sides, and she harbored grave fears for the safety of both her and her husband. “My colleagues who were detained in Ladakh were assaulted. For the first ten to eleven days, I didn’t even know where Sonam was being held. It was a terrifying experience, and I feared he might also be facing violence. When I finally met him in prison and found him safe, I felt some peace,” she said. Without saying it directly, Dr. Angmo also appears disappointed with the Supreme Coordination Committee, which is negotiating with the government to resolve Ladakh’s problems. She had expected Sonam’s release to be a prerequisite for negotiations, but that hasn’t happened. “They fell victim to the government’s strategy. If they had clearly stated that there would be no talks without the release of all prisoners, especially Sonam, they probably acted on their own discretion,” she said. She firmly believes that caving in to the government will yield no meaningful results. “If I were in that position, I would not compromise under any circumstances and would make Sonam’s release a precondition for talks.” If that Supreme Committee fails to achieve statehood and settles for anything less, will Sonam agree?
Taking a realistic view of this question, Angmo says, “Getting statehood is not a simple process. Wherever states have been formed from hill councils, the process has been completed through the legislature. If an intermediate arrangement is possible, it could be the first step towards statehood, but serious dialogue on all these issues is necessary. Sonam is not a radical or dogmatic person who refuses to listen to the other side. If the government explains why statehood or the Sixth Schedule is not possible, Sonam will try to reach a solution through a middle path, which could be a step towards the final goal in a few years.” However, Angmo refuses to consider this any kind of “surrender.” According to her, this is “not a retreat, but a preliminary step towards a well-thought-out process.” Although she and her husband are in agreement on the fundamental issues, Angmo says she does not resort to hunger strike like her husband, regarding the “end result.”According to her, she chooses the path of dialogue and strives to find a solution. “It is important to prepare the other side for a hearing. I have been telling them consistently to find a way to hold a meeting and that we remain in Delhi,” she said. That is, while their approaches to handling the entire matter may differ, she stands firmly with her husband on fundamental issues like statehood and the Sixth Schedule. She reiterates this point, clearly stating that “Ladakh needs a separate identity.”
