Sonam Wangchuk Wants Thermometer For Experiments To Make Jail Better, Says His Wife

Climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk has asked for a thermometer while lodged in Jodhpur jail, saying he wants to carry out simple experiments on eco-responsive architecture to improve living conditions

inside the prison, his wife and Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) co-founder Gitanjali J Angmo said on Wednesday.

In a post on X, Angmo said she met Wangchuk on Tuesday and handed over books he had requested.

These included a book on ants, gifted by his eldest brother, and books related to climate change and its solutions.

Wangchuk, a Magsaysay Award winner, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26.

His arrest came two days after protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status turned violent, leaving four people dead and around 90 injured. He has since spent more than 110 days in jail and remains in solitary confinement.

“I met Sonam Wangchuk yesterday and finally gave him the book on ants, a gift from his eldest brother, along with books on climate change and its solution that he had requested,” Angmo said.

The book on ants is titled Ants: Workers of the World, written by Eleanor Spicer Rice and Eduard Florin Niga.

Angmo said Wangchuk also asked her to explore whether the jail authorities and the Supreme Court would allow him to keep basic scientific instruments.

“He asked me to check with the jail administration and the Supreme Court of India if he can get instruments like thermometers to conduct simple experiments about eco responsive architecture to make the jail barracks better,” she said.

“Release Sonam Wangchuk now so that he can continue his nation-building work in education and environment,” she added.

Earlier, Angmo had told PTI that Wangchuk spends time observing ants inside his jail barrack. She said his interest comes from the strong sense of teamwork and cooperation seen in ant communities.

“If he observes some ants and their behaviour, he asks me to get books on it because the ant community has a lot of solidarity, a lot of team spirit. So, maybe he wants to study that,” Angmo told PTI.

Angmo, who co-founded HIAL with Wangchuk, has moved a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention and seeking his immediate release. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on January 29.