Wangchuk Warns Against Politicizing Protests, Jests At Aamir Khan’s ‘Memory Loss’

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently led a 26-day hunger strike at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, shared candid views during a recent podcast regarding fellow activists Abhijeet Deepke, Sourav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, while also addressing past remarks made by actor Aamir Khan.

On Political Ambitions and Movement Sanctity

Wangchuk acknowledged that while the organizers possess political ambitions, having personal goals is not inherently wrong, provided it does not compromise the non-partisan nature of public causes.

• Political Realities: Wangchuk noted that these organizers are not detached saints and likely harbor political aspirations. While he does not judge individuals for their past affiliations with groups like the Aam Aadmi Party, he emphasized the need for transparency.
• Preserving Neutrality: He urged leaders to maintain the movement as an unbiased, non-political pressure group rather than using it as a political springboard. According to Wangchuk, keeping the platform non-partisan is crucial to retaining public trust, even if individuals choose to enter formal politics later.
• Public Trust and Accountability: Wangchuk pointed out that thousands joined the demonstration viewing it strictly as a student and citizen-led movement. He added that many participants held him personally responsible for the integrity of the campaign, though he candidly stated he could not guarantee anyone’s future political conduct.

Critique of Aamir Khan’s Remarks

During the conversation, Wangchuk also responded to actor Aamir Khan’s earlier statement claiming that his character ‘Phunsukh Wangdu’ in the film 3 Idiots was not inspired by Wangchuk and that he did not know him prior to making the film.

• Satirical Response: Using sharp humor, Wangchuk remarked that the actor might be suffering from “short-term memory loss,” referencing Khan’s character from the film Ghajini.
• Prior Meetings: Wangchuk recounted that the two had met in detail and shared ideas well before the film’s production, even attending the same award ceremonies.
• Clarification on Influence: While clarifying that 3 Idiots was not a direct biography, Wangchuk maintained that the concepts and character nuances were clearly influenced by their interactions, suggesting the actor likely incorporated those insights into the project.