What Really Happened in Leh? Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Tells Her Story | Gitanjali J Angmo | Cazual Talk

In this episode of Please Sit Down, we speaks with Dr. Gitanjali (Geetanjali) Angmo, the wife of Ladakhi climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk. She shares a first-hand account of the days surrounding his detention, the atmosphere in Ladakh during the protests, and the family’s ongoing legal fight. Peaceful demonstrations demanding statehood for Ladakh and Sixth Schedule protections later turned tense, leading to casualties, curfews, and internet shutdowns. Soon after, Sonam Wangchuk was taken into custody and later moved out of Ladakh. His family has challenged the detention in court, raising important questions about due process, dissent, and democratic space in the region. In this conversation, we discuss: • What happened during and after the protests • How the family learned about his detention • Transfers, communication barriers, and community response • The movement for Ladakh’s statehood & Sixth Schedule safeguards • The legal challenge and what comes next • How this moment reflects the tension between peaceful protest and state power This is not only a story about one activist, it is about a region’s demand for dignity, representation, and environmental protection. It is also a reminder of how law, civil rights, and public voice must function together in a healthy democracy. Watch the full episode to hear a deeply personal narrative of courage, community, and conviction, and to understand why the situation in Ladakh matters far beyond the Himalayas. Timestamps: 00:00 -Preview 01:54 - Intro 03:27 - How Sonam Wangchuk was arrested – the sudden call & panic 05:15 - Taken to Jodhpur, internet blackout, media blocked 08:32 - Sneaking out of Leh like a spy 13.50 - Truth, justice and what the system isn’t doing 14:09 - Are we just raising obedient robots? 16:47 - Can power and spirituality go together? 19:50 - How the narrative started to shift 25:53 - Hunger strike and the demand for statehood 31:39 - Sonam’s mindset - duty over fear 33:21 - Ecology before politics - the Sixth Schedule 39:44 - Local problems need local solutions 41:27 - What Gen Z is getting right 46:45 - Can we finally trust youth to lead? 48:54 - Why non-violence still matters 51:20 - How education can actually change the game 53:15 - Do we need to professionalise politics? About Dr Vijender: Dr Vijender Chauhan is an educator, UPSC Interviewer and Motivational speaker with an experience of over a decade. He is one of the most recognised faces among the UPSC aspirants. Follow us on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masijeevi Twitter: https://x.com/masijeevi?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masijeevi/ Public speaking series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsjpxNdkPe9703jiUliZrRB8cZMIXPyH&si=iIQoHc2SrsoOdI1M Podcast with Dr Vijender: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsjpxNdkPe8xHGGNWhzZEzVbugyiyGnd&si=qyySVVRlZNSba8LI #sonamwangchuk #ladakhprotests #statehoodforladakh #sixthschedule #vijenderchauhan #PleaseSitDown #democracy #civilrightslaw #environment #ladakh #dissent #indianews #education #humanrights #conversation