Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh's well known education reformer and environmental activist, has been on an indefinite hunger strike, and his condition is steadily worsening. The issue has now drawn an emotional response from Bollywood. Omi Vaidya, who played the unforgettable Chatur Ramalingam in the blockbuster 3 Idiots, posted a heartfelt video on social media extending his open support to Wangchuk, who is currently camped at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. In the video, Omi reminded viewers that Aamir Khan's character Phunsukh Wangdu in the film was directly inspired by Sonam Wangchuk in real life. Before Omi, veteran actor Prakash Raj had also openly backed the movement, adding his voice to a growing chorus of concern from the film fraternity.
I don't want to lose Phunsukh Wangdu
In the video shared on Tuesday, Omi Vaidya introduced himself the same way his on screen character used to, as Chatur from 3 Idiots. Speaking in an unmistakably emotional tone, he said he did not want Phunsukh Wangdu to lose his life. Recalling his personal meeting with Sonam Wangchuk, Omi described him as an extremely humble and inspiring personality. He asked viewers if they knew that the Phunsukh Wangdu of 3 Idiots is actually based on a real engineer, innovator, teacher and social reformer from Ladakh named Sonam Wangchuk. He said he has met this remarkable man and that he is genuinely a fascinating and great human being. For Omi, this was never just about a fictional character, it was concern for the real person who inspired it, someone whose ideas had already touched millions of viewers through cinema long before this protest began.
Blood sugar at a dangerous level, and questions for the media
Omi Vaidya expressed deep worry over the continuous deterioration in Sonam Wangchuk's health caused by the prolonged hunger strike. He said that going without food for so long has pushed Wangchuk's blood sugar level down to an extremely dangerous point, one that could turn life threatening for anyone. He also questioned mainstream media coverage of the issue, saying he did not know whether people even had information about it, and that he was unsure whether mainstream media was covering such a sensitive matter at all, but stressed that it remains an extremely important and serious issue for everyone. His remarks made clear his disappointment at what he sees as a lack of adequate media attention to a matter he considers urgent.
Just pause for a moment and look at Jantar Mantar
Acknowledging how busy everyday life keeps most people, Omi urged the public to spare just a few moments for this larger cause. He said all of us are ordinary people caught up in new office projects, work pressure and household responsibilities, which often leaves little room to focus on important social issues. His appeal was simple, to pause for a second, set aside daily distractions and look at what is actually happening at Jantar Mantar. He said that once people understand Wangchuk's demands, they will realise how important this fight truly is. Omi also asked people to share the issue further on social media and take their voices to the government, so that the matter reaches more people and builds pressure for action.
Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike
Sonam Wangchuk, the noted education reformer and environmentalist from Ladakh, has been vocal about several social and regional issues for a long time. He has been part of a large protest underway at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since June 28. The movement, led by the Cockroach Janata Party, initially began against alleged serious irregularities and cheating in the NEET medical entrance exam. The protest has now continued uninterrupted for more than 24 days, with Wangchuk sitting on a fast unto death while sticking to his demands. Such a prolonged fast inevitably takes a toll on the body, which explains why the list of people expressing concern for his health keeps growing longer by the day. It is in this context that Bollywood and the art world have now begun extending strong support to him, giving the movement fresh visibility and a much wider reach than it had in its early days.
Where is Omi Vaidya now
Omi Vaidya, who studied in the United States, remains quite active in Marathi cinema these days. His acting journey continued well beyond 3 Idiots, with appearances across films in different languages over the years. He was last seen in Aicha Gavat Marathit Hol, released on Amazon Prime.
