Articles
The Three Idiots of Ladakh
Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai | 14-Oct-2025
Amir Khan's movie “Three Idiots” is to some degree inspired by Sonam Wangchuk of Ladakh, the same person whom the Government has now arrested under the draconian National Security Act and lodged in faraway Jodhpur jail. Ironically, till recently, Wangchuk was an avid fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi; for bifurcating Ladakh from J&K. When did the love story turn sour?
Here is the real Ladakh story, not from three idiots, but from three wise (wo)men who met Wangchuk in Ladakh on 12th/13th September, just a few days before the unfortunate violence erupted on 24th September; resulting in Wangchuk’s arrest; even though he is a known Gandhian who eschews violence.
The three wise persons are Drs Sandeep Pande and Gunjan Singh and Sajjad Hussain. Dr Pande is a Magsaysay awardee who quit his job as a professor of Mechanical Engineering in IIT Kanpur to serve society. Dr Gunjan is a PhD in Anthropology and a Post Doctoral Fellow in tribal studies. Sajjad is from Kargil, a former Lok Sabha candidate and one of the three official delegates from Kargil who were earlier negotiating with the Central Government.
As the Convenor of the Kanpur Nagrik Manch (Citizen’s Forum), I had the privilege of hosting them at a gathering in Kanpur to hear the untold Ladakh story. Some of their revelations are startling. Quoting Rahul Gandhi, Dr Pande alleged that China had usurped 4000 sq kms of Ladakh in recent times. Yet we confront China with only unarmed combat. In contrast we went hammer and tong with Pakistan, using lethal and sophisticated weaponry. Why such double standards?
He said that Amritpal Singh, a duly elected Lok Sabha member from Punjab is incarcerated in Guwahati, because he is perceived as a violent security threat. The same cannot be said of Wangchuk.
He further said that the resistance movement was led by two bodies, the Ladakh Apex Body in the region and the Kargil Democratic Alliance in the Kargil region. It is important to remember that Ladakh, on the eastern border with China is completely Buddhist whereas Kargil on the Western front is Shia Muslim. Despite this diversity they are together in their struggle for justice and equanimity.
Sajjad said that the region is 500 kms from one end to the other, bigger than many Indian States. Yet it has just one seat in Parliament. After the revocation of Article 370 on 5/8/2019 the region has been orphaned. It has been reduced to a Union Territory (UT), that too without a legislature. Earlier there were two MLAs each from Ladakh and Kargil in the J&K Assembly, as also one MLC each. Now they have been deprived of their basic democratic rights of fair representation in the legislatures.
He said that UTs are a colonial mindset that has no place in democratic India. They have been told that they cannot get full Statehood being a border area. What then of Gujarat he asked? Is it not also a border State? Should it also be reduced to a UT? Convoluted logic.
He further demanded the inclusion of the tribal areas of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution that gives certain autonomy to tribal areas, as in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Ironically this was part of the BJP’s election manifesto. But it has rescinded on this electoral promise; another election gimmick.
Another grave injustice is the absence of a Public Service Commission (PSC) for government appointments. Earlier, they had it as part of J&K State. Since there is no PSC now all appointments are arbitrary. Outsiders appoint outsiders, even bypassing higher qualified locals. This is gross injustice; moreso considering that at 36% the region has the second highest unemployment rate in the country.
He further said that India was respected for its diversity, democracy and federalism. All these have been quietly buried in Ladakh today. He also expressed anguish at Wangchuk and the Ladakhis being labelled anti-national. It is worth recalling that the Ladakh Scouts, a para-military force, have been in the forefront of protecting the country’s borders, giving their lives for the defence of the country. Even in the Kargil War of 1999 it was a nomadic shepherd who drew attention to the Pakistani intrusion, despite all our sophisticated satellite spyware.
Anthropologist Dr Gunjan said that tribal (adivasi) areas are invariably rich in natural and mineral resources. However, in the Development versus Displacement debate the tribals are invariably at the receiving end, losing out to the corporate moneybags. The same would happen in Ladakh’s proposed solar park. It would displace the nomads who earn their livelihood rearing the world-famous pashmina goats. Displacing them would result in the loss of their culture, livelihood and even pashmina shawls.
She alleged a draconian clampdown on the freedom of speech. Teachers, doctors, YouTubers and social influencers have been warned to keep their mouths shut, else FIRs would be filed against them, and they could lose their government jobs or be transferred to remote areas. This being so, is it small wonder that the people of Ladakh are frustrated and seeking justice? Can this movement be called anti-national or pro-people?
As Convenor of the Forum I reiterated the six demands of the people of Ladakh and Kargil:
- That it should be given full Statehood with all its inherent rights
- That the tribal areas be covered by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution
- That a Public Service Commission be created for appointments
- That they be given one more seat in the Lok Sabha
- That Sonam Wangchuk be released unconditionally
- That an independent judicial commission should investigate the violence of 24th September. The firing took place without magisterial orders.
I have a personal connection with Ladakh, as my son Avinash had cycled for 3 months in the Kargil-Ladakh region. He had some poignant observations: Firstly, only pro-government TV channels were allowed to broadcast their programmes. Secondly, he experienced the warmest hospitality and cheapest food in the Kargil region. Third, in the Batalik sector there is a village that claims pure Aryan descent. The villagers have green eyes and blonde hair, claiming to be descendents of Macedonian King Alexander. Fourth, Turtuk is a village that was part of Pakistan before the 1965 war. Now it is part of India. To visit their relatives across the border the villagers have to travel to the Wagah border crossing in Punjab. Finally, in many border villages he found the Indian army teaching the locals sports like football and polo.
What is now happening in Ladakh is not an isolated instance. It happened recently in Manipur and is happening in certain parts of Assam. In other parts of the world the cry for justice needs to be heard, from Ukraine to Gaza. Thanks to the Nobel Peace Prize, we now know that Venezuela is also in the infamous League of Nations where dictators, oligarchs, despots and even narcissists like Trump do their utmost to stifle the voices of truth and justice.
The voices and cries from Ladakh and Kargil need to resonate across the country, as also the testimonies of our three wise speakers, certainly not idiots!
(The writer is the Convenor of the Kanpur Nagrik Manch).
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