Activist Sonam Wangchuk was discharged from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Monday and visited Rajghat in New Delhi to honor Mahatma Gandhi [1, 3].
The visit marks a transition for Wangchuk as he recovers from a prolonged period of protest. His return to the mountains signifies a continued commitment to the CJP movement, which seeks specific protections and rights for the Ladakh region.
Wangchuk spent a significant amount of time in protest before his hospitalization. According to reports, he conducted a hunger strike lasting 26 days [2], while the overall agitation spanned 37 days [2]. These efforts were part of a broader campaign to bring national attention to the environmental and political concerns of the Himalayan region.
Upon leaving the medical facility in Gurugram, Wangchuk indicated his intention to pay his respects to the father of the Indian nation. "I will be going to Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and then back to the mountains," Wangchuk said [1].
Footage from the visit showed Wangchuk paying his respects at the memorial. "A tribute and then back to the mountains," Wangchuk said [2].
Local reports confirmed that the visit to Rajghat occurred immediately following his medical discharge on July 27, 2026 [3]. The move to return to Ladakh suggests that the health crisis did not end the activist's campaign for the CJP movement. He intends to resume his activities in the mountains shortly after the New Delhi visit [1, 2].
“"I will be going to Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and then back to the mountains."”
Wangchuk's symbolic visit to Rajghat aligns his current CJP movement with the non-violent resistance legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. By returning to Ladakh immediately after hospitalization, he signals to the government and his supporters that his physical health constraints have not diminished the political urgency of his demands for the region.
