09/10/2025
How does Ladakh become a Science hub?
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Sonam Wangchuk is the founder of SECMOL (Studentsâ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), an NGO that has revolutionized alternative education in Ladakh since 1988. SECMOLâs solar-powered campus teaches students through hands-on learning, scientific experiments, and real-life skills, empowering even those who were considered âfailuresâ in conventional schools. Despite recent scrutiny and cancellation of their FCRA licence after the Ladakh protests, SECMOL remains a powerful symbol of eco-friendly innovation and student empowerment in the region.
Sonam Wangchuk, the brain behind the Ice Stupa innovation, is currently imprisoned under the National Security Act after protests demanding Ladakhâs statehood turned violent in late September 2025. His wife has taken the legal fight to the Supreme Court, which will next hear his case on October 14, with Wangchuk held in Jodhpur jail as Ladakh remains tense under curfew and internet shutdowns. Despite these challenges, the Ice Stupa technology continues to transform farming in Ladakh, automating water supply for desperately needed irrigation and inspiring local and global recognition for sustainable solutions. Wangchukâs innovationsâlike solar-powered tents for the army and eco-friendly artificial glaciersâshow how true heroes are shaping the future from Indiaâs mountains, not just its labs.