Social reformer and education activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday, following his discharge, first paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Wangchuk was discharged from Medanta hospital in Gurugram after ending his 26-day hunger strike. The hospital authorities gave him a discharge as his reports returned normal while he was in observation for a week after he broke his fast.
At a press briefing, Wangchuk said he wanted to visit the memorial after ending his hunger strike and movement to remember Gandhi and highlight the relevance of his principles. “Following the conclusion of this 26-day fast and movement, I wanted to come to Rajghat first to remember Mahatma Gandhi, to express my gratitude to him and to tell the country that the path he showed remains just as relevant and appropriate today as it was a hundred years ago…For the past five or six years, we have been practising and applying this Gandhian method in Ladakh, finding it highly appropriate and relevant. Yet, I was unsure whether it would work at the national level. This time, I was reassured to see that it remains relevant at the national level even after a hundred years and will likely remain so for another hundred or even a thousand years to come. That is why I urge the people of India and the world to voice their grievances and appeals through the path of peace shown by Bapu. A solution is bound to be found. It may take time, but it does not end in darkness; we have witnessed this ourselves. Success may not come on the very first attempt, but it is usually achieved,” Wangchuk said.
Besides, he pressed that governments must remain responsible when people raise questions while stressing that he did not want to get involved in controversies.In the same briefing, he also congratulated the youth, common people and organizers who participated in the movement, saying the outcome was achieved through peaceful means rather than violence.”I wish to congratulate the youth, the common people, and all the citizens of this country. I also congratulate the elders, people of all ages, and the young organisers who carried this movement forward so peacefully. We must understand that if any resolution or achievement has been reached, it was not through the strength of our arms, nor through the use of lathis or stones. Rather, it came about through our appeals for peace and the suffering we endured ourselves,” he said.
Responding to questions on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, Wangchuk added that he hopes the move marks the beginning of a meaningful change. “Otherwise, a resignation alone has no significance. It is only the starting point. Once it’s accepted, the real issue must be addressed so that our country can become better, he said.”
Wangchuk was shifted to Medanta hospital, Shrams afters on July 21st and was treated under an integrated protocol involving internal medicine, critical care and allied specialties. The hospital had declared that he was stable and alert at the time of discharge with vital signs within the normal range and was advised routine outpatient follow-up.