Gitanjali J Angmo has mostly stayed away from the public eye despite being married to activist Sonam Wangchuk. But over the past two days, she has become one of the strongest voices supporting him. After Wangchuk was taken from Jantar Mantar and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, Gitanjali questioned the government’s actions, raised concerns about the hospital’s medical reports and said she would lead the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march to Parliament on July 20 if Wangchuk is unable to join. Here’s everything you need to know about her.
Who Is Gitanjali Angmo?
Gitanjali J Angmo is a social entrepreneur, educationist and co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) in Ladakh, which she started with Sonam Wangchuk in 2017. She was born into a Punjabi family in Balasore, Odisha. She studied physics at Fakir Mohan University and later completed an MBA at Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.
After her studies, she worked in the corporate sector for around 15 years, mainly in Denmark, before returning to India. She later started her own businesses, including Pushan and Shanghai Power Projects Ltd, and also founded the publishing house Helios Books. Through HIAL, she has worked on practical solutions for people in Ladakh, including eco-friendly campuses, solar heated buildings and solar-heated tents for the Indian Army. Apart from her work in education and social development, Gitanjali has many other achievements. She is a black belt in karate, trained in Odissi and Russian ballet, and is a Chevening scholar from the University of Oxford. She has also received the Women Transforming India Award.Â
In her LinkedIn profile, she describes herself as a spiritual seeker interested in Indian spirituality. She met Sonam Wangchuk at an education conference, where they connected over their shared ideas about education and social change. Wangchuk was previously married to American citizen Rebecca Norman before the marriage ended in divorce.
How Did Gitanjali First Come Into The National Spotlight?
Gitanjali first gained national attention in September last year after Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act during protests in Ladakh over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Wangchuk spent 170 days in Jodhpur Central Jail. During that time, Gitanjali became one of his strongest supporters. She moved the Supreme Court against his detention and also wrote to the President seeking intervention. Many believe her legal efforts helped secure Wangchuk’s release. After he was released, she shared an emotional post on X about the difficult months she spent travelling to meet him in jail.
What Has Gitanjali Been Doing Since Wangchuk Began This Hunger Strike?
When Wangchuk started his hunger strike on June 28, Gitanjali initially supported the movement from a distance by writing newspaper articles instead of joining the protest. As his health worsened, she visited him on Friday and asked him to end the fast, but he refused. After Wangchuk was taken from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday, Gitanjali became much more vocal. She questioned the hospital’s medical reports, raised concerns over the reported potassium levels, alleged a lack of transparency and described the heavy police presence at the hospital as “illegal detention.” In a post on X, she even referred to the hospital as “Safdarjung Prison.”
Gitanjali has said the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march to Parliament on July 20 will go ahead even if Wangchuk cannot take part. “If Sonam Wangchuk can’t join the march, I will represent him and lead that march,” she said.
