Gandhian principles can lead India's path to Vishwaguru: Wangchuk

Pune: Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday said India can become Vishwaguru only by following the thoughts promoted by Mahatma Gandhi.
Especially, his idea of simple living should be followed on a large scale in society. "We must focus on reducing consumption," Ladakh-based climate activist said. Wangchuk attended the Gandhi Vichar Sahitya Sammelan, a literary festival dedicated to the Gandhian school of thought. He chaired the concluding ceremony and delivered a talk.
"Many leaders across party lines have been trying to support the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi. But the actual implementation of his thoughts at the ground level was not adequate," he said.
According to Wangchuk, the implementation of Gramswaraj should have been promoted as soon as we got independence. It would have helped in giving more power and voice to the locals in administrative decision-making.
"The world should follow the way of life that focuses on simple living. Gandhiji promoted this type of lifestyle. Other countries can follow it only when our nation promotes it on a large scale," he said.
He also shared his experience with the use of optics and sunlight while pursuing engineering, his journey to become an educational reformer, and the issues faced by students in Ladakh.
"Education should be based on three Hs which were Head, Hand and Heart, a philosophy which was also promoted by Gandhiji," he said.
Wangchuk said our development focuses on increasing consumption. It must be the other way around.
According to Wangchuk, education was mostly based on economic prosperity and not much on ecological harmony. He said his agitation in Ladakh was based on Gandhian principles.
Wangchuk carried out a Padyatra (long march) for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to secure special protection for tribal regions. He also held a 21-day hunger strike, referred to as a "climate fast," in 2024.
He claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised twice to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, but it has not been fulfilled yet. According to Wangchuk, if the policy pertaining to Ladakh would be implemented wrongly, it may adversely impact the interests of India and help China. MSID:: 118820787 413 |