New Delhi: Coming out of a six-month detention under the stringent National Security Act, Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk had a piece of advice for people: everyone should go to jail at least once in their life.
In his first public appearance after 170 days, Wangchuk, in a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, said, “There is a deep fear surrounding prisons, and it needs to be removed. Everyone should go to jail at least once in their life — because, in essence, it means having the courage to raise one’s voice for a cause.”
In a 45-minute long press conference, Wangchuk, along with his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, emphasised on constructive dialogue between the people of Ladakh and the government going forward.
Wangchuk was arrested on 26 September last year after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh turned violent, claiming the lives of four civilians.
‘Win, win, win’
Wangchuk, in his own words, came to the press interaction after having “regained his voice”.
He assured the audience that he was “sure of a victory” in the court.
He folded his hands to greet and express his gratitude to his lawyers and media, who, he said, had been supporting him in his journey.
But Wangchuk is greedy. He said that his “win” is not enough, what he wants is a “win win win”.
“What good is Sonam Wangchuk winning if Ladakh and the Himalayas and the causes he represents do not win. So therefore we were looking for a win-win for the causes also. And even more a win-win-win,” he said.
Wangchuk is happy with the Indian government’s assertion on dialogue, but he wants more. He said there was a lack of dialogue between the government and the people of Ladakh. Elaborating his stand on “win win win,” Wangchuk said that negotiations will improve the Indian government’s image globally.
The climate activist also hoped the Supreme Court weighed in the application of the NSA. “And if the Supreme Court also records a judgment in this case apart from revocation of the order itself so that it guides future executives and future policy makers about how to use and specially how not to use such laws as National Security Act,” he said.
Reminiscing the fight Ladakhis have put up since the past six years — the marches, protests and hunger strikes — Wangchuk said, “People of Ladakh are appealing to the government to come to the discussion table”.
But Wangchuk also asserted that if the dialogue fails, the people of Ladakh would be compelled to seek other means.
“Dialogue, after all, is a process of give and take. Both sides must be considerate and flexible,” he said.
Reiterating her husband’s sentiments, Angmo, a writer, said, “Let us not dwell in the past, let’s go to the future, new beginnings and starting”.
She said that Wangchuk has come out stronger and resilient in a different way, and his experience will shape Ladakh and help in nation building.
Angmo, who was struggling to get him out of the prison, also noted how Ladakh can be made “atmanirbhar”.
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Filmy scenes and jail life
Wangchuk, who was ready to spend 12 months in jail for the cause of Ladakh, recollected his days in prison. It was during his time in jail that he learned about prison bands.
His wife also spoke about the compassionate community at the jail that supported them while Wangchuk was imprisoned. She suggested that jails in India need reform so that people can transform there. “It does not need to be punitive and punishing,” she said.
Wangchuk spoke at length about his time in isolation, where he read books and was impressed by the behaviour of police personnel and the discipline they practiced. He pointed out that the food at prison was “not bad.”
“I could sense a warmth from the staff, guards, even though I was not allowed to see any other faces,” he said.
In his long address, he thanked his wife for standing with him during the difficult times and talked about how instrumental she has been in his struggle.
“My detention began very abruptly,” he said, adding that he was not allowed to contact his family or any lawyer for more than a week.
“It was a huge horror story,” he said.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)