Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk led a 21-day fast in sub-zero temperatures in March this year, seeking autonomy for Ladakh. The protesters, who were inspired by actor Aamir Khan's character Rancho in Bollywood blockbuster "3 Idiots," argued that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution should protect the mountains, glaciers, and ecology of Ladakh. Wangchuk said that locals are concerned that without safeguards, their lands will be taken over by corporates and outsiders who may not respect the environment in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region.
