Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Leh Engineer Who Inspired '3 Idiots' Movie Bags Global Award

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Nov, 2016 12:03 PM
    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 western Himalayas by building “Ice Stupas”.
     
    The Ladakh 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.

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Can't Stand In Malls, Blow Kisses To Promote Film: John Abraham

    John Abraham doesn't believe in promoting a film beyond a point, and says he would never stand around in a mall, throw T-shirts and blow kisses to sell a film.

    Can't Stand In Malls, Blow Kisses To Promote Film: John Abraham

    Will Shah Rukh, Salman Khan Have a Karan-Arjun Moment in Tubelight?

    Will Shah Rukh, Salman Khan Have a Karan-Arjun Moment in Tubelight?
    Filmmaker Kabir Khan says reports of superstar Shah Rukh Khanmaking a cameo in Tubelight are merely rumours.

    Will Shah Rukh, Salman Khan Have a Karan-Arjun Moment in Tubelight?

    Why It Took Three Years For Vaani Kapoor To Return to Films

    Actress Vaani Kapoor, who returns to the silver screen after a gap of three years, says filmmaker Aditya Chopra had asked her to wait for the right film.

    Why It Took Three Years For Vaani Kapoor To Return to Films

    Kareena Kapoor Khan Chooses Deepika Padukone Over Katrina Kaif But For What?

    Kareena Kapoor Khan Chooses Deepika Padukone Over Katrina Kaif But For What?
    Kareena Kapoor Khan has said something interesting about Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif.

    Kareena Kapoor Khan Chooses Deepika Padukone Over Katrina Kaif But For What?

    Ramayan Actor Found Dead Near Railway Tracks In Mumbai

    Ramayan Actor Found Dead Near Railway Tracks In Mumbai
    Veteran actor Mukesh Rawal was also known for his contribution in theater and films, apart from television.

    Ramayan Actor Found Dead Near Railway Tracks In Mumbai

    Took Me Long To Believe I'm Beautiful: Kajol

    Took Me Long To Believe I'm Beautiful: Kajol
    Actress Kajol, who believes in a regular skin care regime, says it took some time for her to believe that she is beautiful.

    Took Me Long To Believe I'm Beautiful: Kajol