Sonam Wangchuk

BENGALURU: On an otherwise lazy Sunday morning, around 1,200 students on the threshold of starting their engineering college life were in for a fiery talk by the high profile mechanical engineer-turned-education reformist from Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk . The Ramon Magsaysay awardee was at RVCE on Sunday to interact with students at the inaugural session of their classes.

Sonam Wangchuk, based on whom Aamir Khan’s character Phunsukh Wangdu in Bollywood movie 3 idiots was modelled, is known for the alternative school he runs in Leh, Ladakh — the Students’ Emotional and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (Secmol). Secmol is an offbeat school that offers dropouts, failed class 10 students and children from poor background education in English, science, computer science and self-development techniques.

Sonam was instrumental in bringing about revolutionary changes in the education system in Ladakh by introducing textbooks in local languages, training teachers and getting the community involved, bringing up the pass percentage in class 10 from a dismal 5% in 1988 to 75% now. Currently, he also runs an offbeat university in the region — the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL).

“When I visit top-end engineering colleges like IITs, I feel disappointed by the tech fests they conduct. I get to see competitions where robots fight or they race cars. They’re interesting, but it makes sense when the West does it, because they do not have issues that our country faces. India has several problems that youth should be engaged in. Apart from a robotics or automation club, RVCE should take equal pride in a team that finds solution for toilets, garbage collection or drinking water. Our engineers should be able to find solutions to our problems,” said Sonam.

“The education system today goes against the nature. As human beings, we are evolved to learn things by doing. That’s how we learnt to hunt or to cultivate in the past. But in the past 300 years, we have stressed so much on paper-based learning,” he added.

While giving several ideas to students to work — ranging from a fan with a temperature sensor to a fan-cum-AC that can save energy, he said: “People ask me why I did not go to California or come down to Bengaluru for a job. And my answer is: I like places with challenges and Ladakh is one such... I also urge you to find challenges in our own country than moving out to green pastures abroad.”

RVCE said they will collaborate with Wangchuk to do research in sustainable solutions.

Mother tongue as important as mom’s milk

* I was born in a village with five houses, and thus no school. That was the best thing to happen to me. I was homeschooled till I was eight, giving me a plenty of stimulation for my mind. Later, when I was put in a school, I could not follow the medium of instruction. As much as it’s important for a child to be fed on mother’s milk, it’s vital for their mind to be fed on mother tongue.

* I wanted to pursue mechanical engineering while my father wanted me to take up civil. Ïf a child is determined to do something, it’s important for parents to let him follow his passion. The child will take onus and work towards it. Else, the parents will have to keep pushing at each stage. The best way to succeed is to take initiative, however small your action is. It leads to experience and then self-confidence.

Sonam Wangchuk | education reformist

