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Sonam Wangchuk Shenanigans: Two Marriages, Foreign Funds, CIA-Linked Ford Foundation, Pakistan Connection, And The Hidden Agenda Behind His Sixth Schedule Demand

The Commune

The peaceful Himalayan land of Ladakh turned into a war zone with self-proclaimed ‘climate activist’ Sonam Wangchuk being in the thick of the action.

Like every time, Wangchuk began his “hunger strike” on 10 September 2025 demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh. Every single day he would post a video, sometimes mock the Central Government and make weird claims.

Last heard in 2024, he was heard to be “fasting unto death”. Then a few days later, he and his supporters decided to embark on a march to Delhi, to urge the central government to reopen discussions regarding their demands. Wangchuk’s demand has been to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which is meant to grant greater autonomy and protect specific tribal regions, currently applicable to only tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. This inclusion is said to be essential for better resource management in the area. However, Wangchuk’s track record and his affiliations suggest that he is placing the demand for sinister motives – to prevent development from reaching the strategic location of Ladakh.

On 24 September 2025, a mob incited by Wangchuk ran amok and the protests turned violent. There are allegations of a Congress hand in escalating the violence. But the MHA released a statement pinning the blame on Wangchuk for making incendiary statements. He later laid the blame on “Gen Z” protestors and their anger against the government. But the truth is this anarchist incited a mob with provocative speeches asking people to protest like in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka. This lays bare the agenda behind Sonam Wangchuk and the forces behind him.

So, how did Sonam Wangchuk shot to prominence and who is he working for? Let’s take a look.

Who Is Sonam Wangchuk?

Is he the character portrayed by Aamir Khan in the film 3 Idiots? Or is he someone else?

Born in 1966 in Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk hails from a politically influential family. His father, Sonam Wangyal, was a Congress leader and minister in the J&K government. Far from the humble beginnings depicted in media portrayals or films like 3 Idiots, Wangchuk grew up with access to political networks and resources.

In 1988, Wangchuk founded SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh) to provide alternative educational opportunities for the region’s youth. In 1995, he launched Operation New Hope, an educational initiative aimed at improving learning outcomes in Ladakh.

From June 1993 until 2005, Wangchuk also founded and served as editor of Ladakh’s only print magazine, Ladags Melong, which provided a voice for Ladakh’s issues.

But he was just getting started. Over the years, he would go on to work in the field of sustainable development which becomes a facade for his political ambitions.

Got Money From Dan Church Aid

His early projects were heavily funded by foreign organizations, including the Ford Foundation, Tata Trust, Dan Church Aid, and Karuna Trust. Questions about the motives of such foreign support have often been raised, particularly regarding Dan Church Aid, which is linked to George Soros’ Open Society Foundation and USAID.

SEMCOL Donors

The funding via Dan Church Aid is pretty suspicious. The Danish NGO claims to support the poorest.

Dan Church Aid is said to be a member of ACT Alliance, which “is composed of more than 140 faith-based member organisations working in long-term development, advocacy and humanitarian assistance.” While they may claim to not indulge in missionary work, we know what is the ultimate motive of such Christian organizations.

Dan Church Aid is said to receive funds from George Soros’ Open Society Foundation and USAID.

In 2023, the Karnataka High Court ruled that mere permanent registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, does not automatically entitle an NGO to receive or utilize foreign funds without clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). This decision arose from a petition by Bengaluru’s MANSA Centre for Development and Social Action, which sought release of Rs 29.12 lakh received from Denmark-based NGO ‘Dan Church Aid’. The bank had frozen the funds following MHA instructions, as Dan Church Aid was under the “Prior Reference/Permission Category” due to field and security inputs. The court upheld that crediting such funds requires explicit MHA clearance, regardless of FCRA registration.

Who Is Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife? Rebecca Or Gitanjali?

The Rebecca Episode And The Exponential Growth Of His Career Graph

In the late 80s or early 90s, he met an American lady named Rebecca Norman and they got married in 1996. We don’t know why this story of Rebecca Norman has been completely erased by the media. Only The Week has a story that mentions his marraige to Rebecca Norman. We do not know if they remain married today. But after meeting Rebecca, Sonam’s life changed completely.

Rebecca earned her bachelor’s in International Studies degree at the School for International Training (SIT) and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. SIT, is a private non-profit regionally accredited institution headquartered in Brattleboro, US. It has a close connection with the State Department.

SIT is funded by the Ford Foundation, the George Soros Open Source Foundation, and the B&MG Foundation. Additionally, Rebecca is a close supporter of Biden also and a huge critic of Donald Trump.


After marrying Rebecca, Sonam suddenly started getting huge support from foreign organizations. In 2002, he received the Ashoka fellowship which is funded by the Skoll Foundation, Schwab Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation.

In 2004, Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister of India. Sonam always received special patronage from the Congress party. He was appointed to the Drafting Committee of Ladakh Hill Council Vision Document Ladakh 2025 and entrusted with the formulation of the policy on Education and Tourism in 2004.

The document was formally launched by Manmohan Singh in 2005. In 2005, Wangchuk was appointed as a member of the National Governing Council for Elementary Education in the Ministry of HRD in Manmohan Singh Govt.

From 2007 to 2010, Wangchuk worked as an education advisor for Mellemfolkeligt Samvirk, a Danish NGO working to support the Ministry of Education for education reforms. He received a lot of patronage from the puppet Manmohan Singh government (Sonia Gandhi government). In 2008, Congress signed a secret MoU with China.

China’s popular Hero Amir Khan’s movie 3 Idiots gets released. That film was based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel Five Point Someone. But after some time, one section of the media suddenly started to link this movie with Sonam Wangchuk. The truth is that there is no connection between 3 idiots and Sonam.

Parallel to his education initiatives, Wangchuk turned towards activism, founding the New Ladakh Movement in 2013, which focused on securing Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh.

Sonam’s best time starts in 2016. In 2016, he received the International Fred M. Packard Award, awarded by the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature. This award is funded by Rockefeller, Pew, Packard Foundation, etc.
In 2017, he received the TN Khoshoo Memorial Award which is again funded by the Ford Foundation.

Sonam is associated with an NGO LEAD India which is again funded by … no prizes for guessing…. Ford Foundation!

In 2018, he receives the Magsaysay Award which was established by Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Ford Foundation of USA, both have deep links with the CIA. The CIA channels funds through the Ford Foundation as part of its efforts to influence politics and policies in other countries. Magsaysay Award is especially given to CIA assets – Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus for example. And in 2020 both Yunus and Wangchuk met in 2020 at the British High Commission in Dhaka.

Sonam is also associated with the International Association for Ladakh Studies which published a four-volume book on Ladakh culture. This project was funded by the Ford Foundation, and it seems there is a special connection between Sonam, the CIA’s Ford Foundation, and Congress.
Earlier he supported the repeal of Article 370 but later he became unhappy with the repeal of Article 370. Pakistan used his statement against India.

He calls himself a climate activist and education reformist. Wangchuk became known for pioneering low-cost mud houses that maintained a steady 15°C even in harsh -15°C winter conditions. He also designed artificial ice stupas – cone-shaped glaciers storing winter water for release during late spring, when farmers needed irrigation most. However, his ice stupa initiative faced opposition from farmers, who alleged that water meant for agriculture was being diverted to build the structures.

This Ice Stupas project was appreciated by Western media, but his own villagers raised doubt about it.

HIAL And Gitanjali

In 2015, Wangchuk launched the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), with the goal of creating a sustainable university dedicated to Himalayan ecology and technology.

In May 2017, Gitanjali—who, according to publicly available information, is now his wife—joined Sonam Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), relocating to Ladakh to support its establishment.

In 2018, the Ladakh administration allotted 54 hectares of land in Phyang for HIAL. The terms required a ₹14 crore lease premium to be paid within a year and construction to be completed within two.

But progress stalled. No major construction was undertaken, the institution failed to obtain UGC/AICTE recognition (making potential degrees invalid), and dues escalated to ₹37 crore by 2025 due to penalties. Allegations surfaced of council approval violations and land misuse.

On August 21, 2025, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council canceled HIAL’s land allotment, citing non-payment and regulatory failures. The institute produced no recognized graduates, leading many to deem it a failure.

Changes Avatar To Social Media ‘Activist’

In 2020, following the India-China clashes in Galwan Valley, he tried to capitalise on the situation and grab attention of Indians by appealing them to boycott Chinese goods, popularizing the slogan: “Cheen ko jawaab… Sena degi bullet se, nagrik dengey wallet se.”

In March 2024, he launched a 21-day hunger strike in freezing temperatures, calling on the government to safeguard Ladakh’s environment and tribal culture. Thousands joined in solidarity through fasting and demonstrations.

Currently, he is demanding to add Ladakh to the 6th schedule of the constitution which is not possible because the 6th schedule is only for Northeast states. His other demand is to stop construction activity by the Indian Army in Ladakh because it may hurt the climate of Ladakh.

Now this is his background.

The Pakistan Connection

In February 2025, we heard about Wangchuk attending a conference in Pakistan. 

Sonam Wangchuk participated in the ‘Breathe Pakistan’ climate conference in Islamabad, an event organized by Dawn Media to raise awareness about environmental challenges.

During the panel discussion on “Glacial Melt: A Sustainable Strategy for the Water Towers of South Asia,” Wangchuk reportedly stressed the need for urban populations to adopt simpler lifestyles in order to protect mountain ecosystems. He stated that people in cities should reduce their consumption levels so that those living in mountainous regions could sustain themselves without excessive environmental stress.

He also praised Pakistani media outlet, Dawn Media for taking the lead in addressing climate change and expressed hope that other media organizations, including those in India, would assume similar responsibilities. He said, “In Pakistan, I see Dawn Media is taking that responsibility as a champion of environment. I wish all countries and, in my country, and media house really take this responsibility like here.” 

With Sonam arrested under National Security Act, Ladakh’s Director General of Police SD Singh Jamwal said that they’re now probing possible Pakistan link based on his alleged interactions with Islamabad-based officials.

A Pakistan Intelligence Official allegedly in touch with Sonam Wangchuk and was reporting back across the border. Officials say that there is a record of this. This Pakistani spy has also been arrested and investigation is underway.

Anti-Hindu Statement Made By Wangchuk

Let’s now take a look at some of his infamous statements that will show you where his allegiances lie.

In March 2024, he abused Lord Ram and Goddess Sita during an interview with NDTV. While criticizing the Modi government for not fulfilling its promise to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, he compared the government’s actions to Lord Ram rescuing Sita from Ravan but then selling her in the open market. He said, “I see it in the way that they [Central government] turned out to be such Ram who freed Sita from Raavan but didn’t take her home rather they put her on sale in an open market. So like this, they have left Ladakh open for industrialists and mining lobbies without any protection [from the government],” 

He claimed that while Ladakh was freed from one problem, it was left vulnerable to industrialists and mining lobbies without government protection. His remarks drew widespread condemnation on social media for being derogatory toward Hindu deities.

Why Sonam Wangchuk Wants Ladakh To Be Included In Sixth Schedule?

The Sixth Schedule, currently applicable to select regions in the northeastern states, grants special autonomous powers to local governing bodies.

This means that if the Modi government wants to initiate any project in Ladakh, it would require approvals from these local authorities.

It is noteworthy that all this activism has been deliberately kept active in Ladakh’s political movements, which some believe obstruct India’s ability to tap the region’s rich mineral resources including copper, lead, zinc, gold, borax, sulphur, limestone, rubies, and ultra-pure silica sand (crucial for semiconductors).

In other words, if the government intends to expand border infrastructure along the LAC, figures like Sonam Wangchuk could use these bodies to place roadblocks under the guise of environmental protection.

Now you know what the real agenda of Sonam Wangchuk is – to stall development in border areas and keep India’s sensitive and strategic regions vulnerable to external threats.

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