They jailed him as they couldn't buy him - Gitanjali Angmo

Dr. Gitanjali J. Angmo is the wife of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, the prominent climate innovator, who is currently incarcerated under the National Security Act (NSA) for his role in the recent pro-statehood protests; she is actively challenging his detention in the Supreme Court, highlighting issues of justice and democratic rights in Ladakh while also leading the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL). She spoke to Mathrubhumi about the struggle she keeps fighting for the people of Ladakh and Sonam Wangchuk. Excerpts from the interview:

Sonam Wangchuk has been in jail for more than 100 days. How hopeful are you now about his release?

I remain hopeful-very hopeful, actually. The Supreme Court is hearing our habeas corpus petition, and the government's repeated requests for adjournments tell me they know the case against Sonam has no real merit. There are clear procedural lapses in the NSA detention order, and legally, he should already be free. We are now waiting for the next hearing on January 29. Sonam himself is calm and strong; he tells me not to worry, that truth will prevail. That gives me even more hope. The people of Ladakh and supporters across the country are standing with us. Justice may be delayed, but it cannot be denied forever.

Both of you have been deeply influenced by the philosophy of Aurobindo. Aurobindo's prison notes is one of Sonam's favourite books. Is Sonam more spiritually inclined these days?

Yes, absolutely. I have been influenced by Sri Aurobindo's philosophy since I was 16 years old and Sonam has been visiting Auroville for the last 20 years as well. I have always tried to be inspired by Sri Aurobindo's light, and his books ‘The Mother’ and his magnum opus ‘Savitri’ have been my companions for years. In jail now, with so much solitude, Sonam is diving even more deeper into spirituality. He practices Vipassana every day, does Yoga and Surya Namaskar as well. He is writing a book on his prison experiences, reflecting on life, purpose, and the divine in the midst of hardship-just as Aurobindo did in Alipore jail. He tells me he feels more connected than ever to that inner strength. While giving him Tales of Prison Life by Sri Aurobindo, I told him jokingly but half-seriously that he has to promise me to attain realization in prison just as Sri Aurobindo did in Alipore Jail. The outer circumstances are harsh, but inwardly he is growing calmer, clearer, and more surrendered. It inspires me every time I speak to him.

Sonam was a poster boy of the BJP regime. But the hero was portrayed as a villain when he started reminding the regime of their promises to the people of Ladakh. Do you think that speaking truth to power caused his imprisonment?

Sonam has been awarded and celebrated in the last 30 years with various governments in power. Yes, I completely concur. He was celebrated by the ruling government nationally when it suited the narrative-his innovations, his awards, even his support for certain policies. But the moment he began peacefully reminding the government of its own promises-safeguards for Ladakh, Sixth Schedule protection, democratic rights-he was labelled a threat. Speaking truth to power has always been dangerous for those in power who prefer silence. His only 'crime' is refusing to stay quiet when Ladakh's fragile ecology and indigenous rights are at stake. This detention is not about law; it is about sending a message: do not question broken promises.

Sonam's imprisonment was a shocker to you. What gives you the immense courage and resilience to continue the struggle for the freedom of Sonam? Have you ever felt let down in this fight for justice?

Was there any dialogue between you and the BJP leaders regarding the release of Sonam from prison?

There has been no direct dialogue with senior BJP leaders about his release. We have followed only legal and constitutional paths-petitions, representations through proper channels, and court proceedings. Despite many people reaching out to leaders who once praised Sonam publicly, we have received no meaningful response. The silence speaks volumes.

Do you think that the opposition parties including the Congress have not been raising their voice for Sonam?

Some opposition leaders and parties have spoken up, and I am grateful for that. But honestly, I expected a much stronger, unified voice from the entire opposition. This is not a partisan issue-it is about democracy, federalism, and the rights of a vulnerable border region. When someone like Sonam, a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner and national icon, can be detained for over 110 days under NSA for peaceful democratic demands, it should alarm every political party. The voice has been there, but it could be far louder and more sustained.

You have said in an interview that Sonam was imprisoned because he refused to be bought. Could you shed more light on this statement?

Sonam has always been approached-sometimes subtly, sometimes directly-with offers that would have made life very comfortable if he had simply stopped raising difficult questions. Positions, projects, funding with strings attached, invitations to align quietly. He turned them all down because his loyalty is only to the people of Ladakh and to truth. A person who cannot be co-opted becomes inconvenient, then a threat. They tried to buy his silence; when that failed, they used the NSA to impose it. That is the simple, painful truth.

There have been observations that the central govt has caved in to the interests of some of the giants in Indian Industry. Do you think that the BJP regime is more interested in protecting these industrial houses than in the well being of the people of Ladakh?

Yes, that is exactly what we are seeing. Massive solar parks, mining leases, and infrastructure projects are being pushed on fragile Himalayan land without proper consultation or environmental safeguards. Local grazing lands are being taken, water sources threatened, and the demographic balance risked-all to benefit large industrial houses. Meanwhile, the genuine demands of Ladakh's people for constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule are ignored. When we protest peacefully, we are met with force and detention. It feels as though the well-being of a few powerful corporations matters more than the survival of an entire indigenous culture and ecosystem.

Does Sonam regret his support to the Modi govt in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370? Is there a feeling now that the people of J&K have been betrayed just like the people of Ladakh?

Sonam supported the abrogation of Article 370 because the people of Ladakh had long demanded separation from Jammu and Kashmir and direct Union Territory status-it was a decades-old aspiration. But that support came with the clear expectation that Ladakh would receive the promised safeguards: Sixth Schedule status, protection of land, jobs, and culture. Those promises have not been kept. So there is no regret for wanting freedom from the old arrangement, but deep disappointment-yes, even a sense of betrayal-at the failure to honour commitments made to a trusting border region. And yes, many in both Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir feel that democratic voices are being systematically suppressed. The struggle for genuine autonomy and rights continues in both places.