Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk visited Rajghat in Delhi on Monday to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi following his discharge from a Gurugram hospital [1].
The visit marks Wangchuk's first public appearance after a period of intense medical recovery. His return to the public eye signals a transition from his recent protest actions back to his environmental advocacy in the Ladakh region.
Wangchuk was discharged from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Monday [2]. He had been receiving medical care for almost one week [3] after concluding a hunger strike that lasted 26 days [4]. The fast ended the previous Thursday [2].
Upon leaving the facility, Wangchuk expressed gratitude to the medical staff for their care. He said that his immediate priority was to honor the legacy of the Indian independence leader before resuming his work in the highlands.
"I will first pay my respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat," Wangchuk said [5].
The activist's visit to the memorial in Delhi served as a symbolic bridge between his recent period of fasting and his future activities. Wangchuk said that his time in the capital would be brief as he prepares to leave the city.
"Will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and then back to mountains," Wangchuk said [6].
Wangchuk has gained international attention for his efforts to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas. His recent hunger strike was part of a broader campaign to secure environmental protections, and administrative autonomy for the Ladakh region.
“"I will first pay my respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat,"”
Wangchuk's decision to visit Rajghat immediately after a 26-day hunger strike connects his contemporary environmental struggle with the Gandhian tradition of non-violent protest. By centering his first public appearance on a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, he reinforces the ideological framework of his activism before returning to the specific regional challenges facing Ladakh.
