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Sonam Wangchuk is often recognized as the real-life inspiration behind the iconic protagonist of "3 Idiots," renowned for his unconventional and hands-on approach to learning. This charismatic character captivated audiences by defying traditional notions of academic excellence. It was during his maiden Josh Talk, he clarified that he is Sonam Wangchuk and not Phunsukh Wangdu. As Sonam Wangchuk is a man who has worked more in reality than in reel and shattered stereotypes.
Early life
Sonam Wangchuk is of the opinion that problems help one more than their comfort does. His life itself is a testimony to it. He was born in the year 1966 in a small village in Ladakh. In order for one to be taught in such a remote village meant to travel for miles to different villages and receive education in languages such as Urdu or English which were foreign to the natives of Ladakh. While any ordinary man would feel empathy for his inaccessibility to decent education, Wangchuk took pride in this very fact. He considered it to be his luck for that village to lack an educational institution. His early life was full of playful times and adventures. His mother became a mentor to him and taught him the basics. According to him, while other students were moulded into the same shape in school, he had the freedom to roam around and enjoy his life with minimum constraints.
It was his uncle who took the initiative to teach him. His uncle's techniques of teaching him were unconventional too. Little Wangchuk would be asked to read aloud the hoardings of shops, listen to the radio, or read Buddhist scriptures. Since his uncle moved from one place to another, his school moved along with him. He was always remarked as an exceptional pupil by his teachers and was promoted every six months, to his amusement. By the time he was nine years old, he had already reached the third grade.
His interest in the sciences started to develop with age. He was particularly fascinated by the idea of lenses and was keen on their applications. In class 12th, he wanted to pursue mechanical engineering, with the purpose of learning more about lenses.
But the path towards fulfilling his dream was not as easy as it may have seemed. He went to Srinagar for his higher studies and when asked to choose a branch of engineering, he was faced with a dilemma like no other. Sonam's father was apprehensive about the future prospects of mechanical engineering and wanted him to pursue civil engineering, as that would offer him more progress and prosperity in Ladakh. Sonam found himself at crossroads, as he had to either obey his father or be abandoned. But, Wangchuk is a name and face of courage, who is always determined to travel the road less taken. He chose the latter and went on his voyage for education all by himself. But it is always easier said than done.
Making of a revolutionary
His immediate challenge was to gather enough resources and money to pursue his first love: mechanical engineering. All he had known by then was teaching and that's when he noticed the trend of a growing web of coaching centres in Ladakh. The teachers would avoid teaching in mostly public and government-subsidised schools and deliver lectures in private coaching institutes by charging a hefty amount. Wangchuk was determined to bring about changes to this wave and started teaching a huge group of pupils and charged them an amount five times less than the centres. This was one of his first initiatives to collect his own educational fees.
Around this time, a series of transformations also followed. After spending a couple of years with his students, Sonam understood the challenges and obstacles in the context of real-time and that led him to spot a systematic failure. Around 95% of students were unable to clear a metric or 10th division. “When 95% of the products of a company fail, we shall question the system and not the product,” Wangchuk has been quoted saying, and rightly so. He brought attention to the manifold obstacles of students. They were forced to study languages that they could barely intercept. Sonam empathises with them by stating, “In freezing cold temperatures we can't ask them to write examinations when the hands get numb.” After a careful evaluation of this scenario, Sonam decided to overlook his first love and work towards an educational revolution.
SECMOL- The Beginning of a Change
“SECMOL is a solution to the problem of the people of Ladakh”, he had replied when inquired about this unique idea. He quoted further, “Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh is more than an initiative.” It was founded in 1988 by like-minded youngsters who wanted to transform the education system. The idea behind SECMOL was to move ahead an extra mile in the definition of a traditional school. The campus has since grown into an ‘eco-village’ where students, staff, and volunteers live, learn, and work together in harmony and coordination. The school provides opportunities for mastering every extracurricular activity ranging from dance and music to debate and quiz. It also aims to make students capable of understanding news in their native mother tongue Ladakhi.
The admission process might come as a surprise to many. If you are a national topper or an ace scholar, you have all the chances of being denied admission. The criteria for admission requires the pupil to have not cleared board examinations. Wangchuk attempts to help the children who find it difficult to fit in the education system. These walls invite the so-called failure by conventional education systems to be transformed into the scholars. Through this method, they aim to provide extra support and care for their development. This school challenges the system by building a stronger system as its alternative. Students who enter in self-doubt leave the campus as leaders and changemakers. The campus provides them with a platform to become leaders and live a self-dependent life.
SECMOL is an institution for the students and by the students. The structure is built by students which is novel in its design and functionality. The structure is made facing south, to absorb and store the maximum sunlight. By applying traditional knowledge, thick walls have been constructed with mud which store the heat in the daylight and spread it at night time, forming a cycle of conventional heating. The school has net zero application of electricity. It works on renewable energy and preaches as well as practises sustainable living. While we search for eco-friendly living examples outside the nation, we are overlooking an epitome of sustainability prospering in the heart of this plateau. Whether it be in cleaning or cooking, students take the lead. This also reflects upon their concept of parliament, where the student's elected body takes charge of all the affairs.
The government schools in India still lack the basic infrastructure, proper classrooms, clean drinking water and sanitation. As per the reports in 2023, government schools in Bihar are on the verge of dysfunction which could be corroborated from the attendance which has fallen to 20% in primary school and 23% in upper primary schools. On the other hand is SECMOL, which has survived beyond despair. Thus, the institution shall act as a benchmark for the rest. On the contrary, the local government had charged SECMOL's Director with “anti-national connections to China” to sustain a major blow to the popularity of the revolution. However, the school has made sure to bloom against all odds by turning the literacy rate from a mere 5%, to a whopping 75% and this traces back to the seed sown by Sonam named SECMOL. Furthermore, this structure has received the ‘Ramon Magsaysay Award’, which is considered the Nobel Prize of Asia along with the ‘Global Award for Sustainable Structure’.
Artificial Stupa- The Pillar of Hope
While the world is worried sick over global warming and environmental crisis, the desert of Ladakh has found its oasis, or rather has built one. Villages in Ladakh face acute shortages of water, specifically during the months of April and May, which disrupts basic living. But no longer shall it be a cause of worry, since SECMOL students, unlike other government and private schools’ students, are not trained only on paper. They have found a solution, what many may call a miracle: an artificial stupa! Wangchuk and his brilliant minds at SECMOL have put science to its best use. They have used gravity and natural water pressure as their tools. In an experiment, they dug the pipe at a great depth in a river which was the nearest to their village. That pipe is extended till the village which is kept straight and there lies its second opening. The gravity of water makes it follow the path. The depth of the pipe in the river is kept the same as the height of the pipe because gravity builds pressure in the pipe which comes out through the second opening. The water falling from the pipe gets frozen due to the temperature of Ladakh. The geometrical shape and measurements support its creation. This has returned greenery to the village. It is one of the many sustainable projects that SECMOL has contributed to.
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Way Forward
Sonam Wangchuk shall receive his due credit and the organisations shall draw inspiration from his acts like solar building missions, insulated bunkers for soldiers, or the magical ice stupa. He again got a centre stage in Ladakh for his protest against the government. He continues to fight for the sixth schedule for the region.
Sonam Wangchuk's SECMOL is a beacon of innovative education in India, breaking free from traditional models and setting a new standard for others to follow. Unlike conventional institutions that focus on rote learning and lengthy curricula, SECMOL has made significant strides in experiential learning, community involvement, and cultural relevance. This pioneering approach is often overlooked in favour of European structures, contributing to criticisms of the Indian education system. By embracing SECMOL's vision, India can redefine its education system, shifting focus from mere academic achievement to holistic development and social responsibility. This is the key to creating a truly transformative education system that prepares students for a rapidly changing world. SECMOL's success highlights the importance of reconnecting with Indian traditions and values in education, fostering a deeper understanding of the country's rich cultural heritage.
So when asked, what does it take to change the world? The answer remains, all that it takes is an individual, especially one who is like Sonam Wangchuk. A man beyond the film, who acts more in real than in an hour-long clip.
By Parth Kalra
Parth Kalra is a 1st Year student of the Political Science department at Hindu College, a TEDX speaker and organiser, and founder of Youth Today Magazine.
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Great research Parth.. An informative and inspirational read... well done..👏