Sonam Wangchuk is the personality that inspired the fictional character of Phunsukh Wangdu in the blockbuster Bollywood film ‘3 Idiots.’ Sonam Wangchuk is a Ladakh-based engineer who has contributed significantly to technological revolutions in the field of education and learning.
His work continues to be a source of inspiration to millions across the globe. Wangchuk is also a philanthropist who has worked hard to bring learning-oriented and skill-based education to Ladakh.
Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Sonam Wangchuk |
| Nick Name | Snow Warrior |
| Profession | Engineer, Innovator |
Personal Life
| Date of Birth | 1 September 1966 (Thursday) |
| Age (as of 2024) | 58 years old |
| Birthplace | Uley Tokpo, Ladakh, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Ladakh, India |
| Religion | Not Known |
| School | Vishesh Kendriya Vidyalaya, Delhi |
| College/University | National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar CRAterre School of Architecture, Grenoble, France |
| Education Qualification | B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering Masters in Earthen Architecture |
Age
He was born in 1966 in Uleytokpo, near Alchi in the Leh district of Ladakh. Sonam Wangchuk’s age is 57 years old as of 2024.
Family
| Wife | Not Known |
| Children | Son: Not Known Daughter: Not Known |
| Parents | Father: Sonam Wangyal (former politician) Mother: Not known |
| Siblings | Brother: Not Known Sister: Not Known |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Not Known |
| Marriage Date | Not known |
| Affairs/Girlfriend | Not Known |
Physical Stats & More
| Height (approx) | In centimeters- 172 cm In meters- 1.72 m In feet inches- 5’8” |
| Weight (approx) | In kilograms- 71 kg In pounds- 157 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Measurement’s | Not known |
Net Worth
| Net Worth in 2024 | $10 Million (Approx) |
| Net Worth in Indian Rupees | INR- 80 Crore (Approx) |
Some Lesser Facts
- In late 2013, Wangchuk invented and built a prototype of the Ice Stupa, which is an artificial glacier that stores the wasting-stream-water during the winter in the form of giant ice cones or stupas and releases the water during spring, which is a very vital season for the local farmers.
- It is believed that Aamir Khan’s Phunsuk Wangdu character in the 2009 blockbuster movie- 3 Idiots was inspired by him.
- In 2005, he was appointed as a member of the National Governing Council for Elementary Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
- In 1994, Wangchuk played an important role in the launch of Operation- New Hope, a triangular collaboration of government, village communities, and civil society to bring reforms in the government schools system. This movement led to raising the all-important 10th-grade exam results in the region from 5% success to eventually 75%.
- Although his father wanted him to become a Civil Engineer, Wangchuk opted for Mechanical Engineering. Infuriated by Wangchuk’s decision, his father refused to pay the fee for the course. Wangchuk then gave tuition to 10th-standard students to finance his engineering course at NIT Srinagar.
- In 1977, Wangchuk left for Delhi, where he got admission to Vishesh Kendriya, a free residential government-run school for children from the border areas.
- Wangchuk then got admission to a school, which was a few kilometers away from his home. However, he could only spend a few months there as the language to which the teachers and students resorted wasn’t known to him.
- Wangchuk was born in a tiny village of 5 households. Because of the lack of schools in the vicinity, his mother taught him all the basics in his mother tongue until the age of 8.
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