Who is Gitanjali Angmo? Meet Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, leading his campaign after activist’s hospitalisation

Who Is Gitanjali Angmo? Meet Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife, Leading His Campaign After Activist’s Hospitalisation

Who is Gitanjali Angmo Meet Sonam – Throughout much of Sonam Wangchuk’s public career as a climate advocate and education reformer, his wife Gitanjali J Angmo remained in the background. That shifted recently when Wangchuk was moved from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital during his prolonged hunger strike. As anxieties grew about his health, Angmo stepped forward to address supporters and challenge the circumstances of his detention.

“If Sonam Wangchuk can’t join the march, I will represent him and lead it,” she declared on Saturday.

Angmo contested the decision to hospitalize her husband, insisting that no medical interventions should occur without the family’s approval. In a social media post, she emphasized, “I am at Safdarjung hospital in Delhi where Sonam Wangchuk has been admitted. Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenously without taking consent from me, his family, and his doctors who have monitored his health for 20 days.”

She also shared ongoing updates from the hospital, questioning the restrictions on visitors. “Why are they not letting our phones inside? Why is there such heavy police deployment? It seems like this is not Safdarjung hospital, but Safdarjung prison,” she wrote, highlighting her growing visibility in the movement.

Wangchuk, who has been fasting since June 28, initiated the hunger strike to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. His protests centered on alleged misconduct in the NEET-UG exam system and concerns about student suicides. The Delhi Police cited court orders and medical advice as justification for his hospitalization.

Background of Gitanjali J Angmo

As a social entrepreneur and educator, Gitanjali J Angmo is renowned for co-founding the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) in 2017 with Sonam Wangchuk. The institute champions experiential learning and designs practical solutions for issues in Himalayan communities. Its initiatives include eco-friendly campuses, solar-heated structures, and other sustainable innovations. In 2021, HIAL developed solar-heated tents for the Indian Army, showcasing its commitment to environmental and educational advancements.

Despite her public role, Angmo’s career began in academia. She earned a Physics degree from Fakir Mohan University and later completed an MBA at Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar. After a 15-year stint in the corporate world, mostly in Denmark, she returned to India to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Her projects range from Pushan to Shanghai Power Projects Ltd and Helios Books.

Personal Life and Achievements

Angmo’s profile reflects a blend of professional and personal accomplishments. Her LinkedIn page highlights her skills as a Black Belt in karate, a proficient Odissi and Russian ballet dancer, and her status as a Chevening Scholar from the University of Oxford. She has also received the Women Transforming India Award from the government.

In her personal bio, she identifies as a “spiritual seeker,” inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy, the Vedas, and the Upanishads. Her journey with Wangchuk began at an education conference in 2025, where she described their first meeting as a moment of profound connection. “It was interesting to see that we were finishing each other’s sentences. There was so much similarity in the way we wanted to work in education and life in general,” she recalled.

A Meeting That Changed Everything

Before marrying Angmo, Wangchuk was previously wed to Rebecca Norman, an American citizen. Their union ended in divorce before he met his current spouse. Angmo’s steadfast presence became critical during Wangchuk’s legal challenges, particularly when he was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) following protests in the region.