This Ladakhi engineer who inspired Aamir Khan’s role in 3 Idiots just received a prestigious global award
Advertisement
Viewers would remember having been left awe-struck by Aamir Khan's many science experiments in the 2009 blockbuster '3 Idiots' -- now Sonam Wangchuk , the inspiration behind Aamir Khan 's "Phunsukh Wangdu" character in the film, has gained further global recognition bagging the prestigious Rolex Awards for Enterprise 2016.
The awards were presented on Tuesday in Los Angeles to those "who have reshaped the world with their innovative thinking and dynamism". Sonam's "Ice Stupas" project is among the five winners this year at the awards.
Sonam Wangchuk, a 50-year-old Ladakhi engineer, has been attempting to solve the problem of lack of water for agriculture in the desert landscapes of the westernHimalayas by building "Ice Stupas".
TheLadakh region, at roughly 3,500-metre altitude between the Kunlun and Great Himalayan mountain ranges, faces acute water shortage during the April-May early crop-growing period. Wangchuk was certain that access to water in the desert landscapes around many high altitude towns and villages of Ladakh could be improved if the huge seasonal outflow of glacial water could be frozen.
Inspired by the experimental work of a fellow Ladakhi engineer, Chewang Norphel, Wangchuk developed a simple and effective system, creating what he calls "ice stupas" -- conical ice mounds that behave like mini-glaciers, slowly releasing water for the growing season.
"The Rolex Award funds will support the project and promote ice stupas as a climate-change adaptation and desert-greening technique," Wangchuk said in a statement released by Rolex.
Wangchuk intends to build up to 20 such ice stupas, each 30 metres high and capable of supplying millions of litres of water. The long-term aim is to build an alternative university and engage youth in the environment.
Wangchuk is currently working on establishing an alternative university on the 65-hectare land donated by the village that will engage youth from Ladakh, the Himalayas and other mountain regions of the world in finding their own solutions to the challenges facing them.
"The Rolex Awards were designed to support those whose own spirit of enterprise mirrored the enterprising spirit on which the company was founded," Rebecca Irvin, Head of Philanthropy at Rolex, said in the release.
(image: IndiaTimes)
Advertisement
The awards were presented on Tuesday in Los Angeles to those "who have reshaped the world with their innovative thinking and dynamism". Sonam's "Ice Stupas" project is among the five winners this year at the awards.
Sonam Wangchuk, a 50-year-old Ladakhi engineer, has been attempting to solve the problem of lack of water for agriculture in the desert landscapes of the western
The
Inspired by the experimental work of a fellow Ladakhi engineer, Chewang Norphel, Wangchuk developed a simple and effective system, creating what he calls "ice stupas" -- conical ice mounds that behave like mini-glaciers, slowly releasing water for the growing season.
Advertisement
Wangchuk intends to build up to 20 such ice stupas, each 30 metres high and capable of supplying millions of litres of water. The long-term aim is to build an alternative university and engage youth in the environment.
Wangchuk is currently working on establishing an alternative university on the 65-hectare land donated by the village that will engage youth from Ladakh, the Himalayas and other mountain regions of the world in finding their own solutions to the challenges facing them.
"The Rolex Awards were designed to support those whose own spirit of enterprise mirrored the enterprising spirit on which the company was founded," Rebecca Irvin, Head of Philanthropy at Rolex, said in the release.
(image: IndiaTimes)
Advertisement
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- "To sit and talk in the box...!" Kohli's message to critics as RCB wrecks GT in IPL Match 45
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- Top 5 places to visit near Rishikesh
- Indian economy remains in bright spot: Ministry of Finance
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market