“We are in third world war without guns, daggers and arrows” Sonam Wangchuk

“Faiths of all kinds have taught us peace and non-violence because lawlessness and violence must have prevailed in the past. But today there is hardly any death due to physical violence. Today, physical violence is 26th or so in number, but the number 1, 2, and 3 killers are all environmental, lifestyle-related: pollution, emissions, and climate change.” Renowned Engineer, Educationist, and Social Innovator Sonam Wangchuk spoke about the effects of climate change while receiving the 7th Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award.

He was conferred with the honour for his outstanding contribution to Creative Innovation and Sustainable Development. The award function was organised at St. Thomas School Grounds in Ghaziabad, Delhi. Former recipients of the award were towering personalities and great humanitarians like His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Baba Amte, and Varghese Kurien.

Wangchuk’s Message

Sonam Wangchuk achieved worldwide attention for his efforts to uplift humanity in Ladakh and for his innovations promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle in the mountains. His work has earned him many prestigious international awards, including the Magsaysay Award and the GQ Men of the Year for Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

All Faiths Must Upgrade to Version 2.0

“All faiths have to upgrade to version 2.0,” said Sonam Wangchuk. “In my own Ladakh, glaciers are melting, which is causing flash floods, killing thousands in the past decade alone. The same is true in many coastal areas. In the coming years, there will be many more deaths due to environmental reasons. So, all the colourful faiths also have to upgrade to the next version: Christianity 2.0, Hinduism 2.0, Buddhism 2.0, where the violence of our lifetime is also acknowledged and addressed.”

The Ultimate Killer: Pollution

The weapons and killers have changed in these times, says Wangchuk; religion and lifestyle need enhancement. “Today we are not running around with daggers, arrows, and bows, but every time we drive our huge, clean-looking cars, we are dropping a bomb of roughly 4 kg of carbon dioxide every kilometre. Now, this is the violence that we need to see addressed in all faiths and bring peace.”

The Silent Killer: Pollution

He says that the number of people killed by pollution every year matches the figures from World War fatalities. “Today, roughly 7 million people in the world die every year of air pollution alone. World War I and II together killed 100 million people over a period of 10 years, which comes to 10 million people a year. Air pollution alone is killing almost that many. If you add the other impacts of climate change, we are actually in the third world war—without guns, daggers, and arrows.”

Our Over-Consuming Lifestyle

He reiterated the urgency of mending our ways and cutting down on the excessive lifestyle followed in the modern day. “Because of our lifestyles, we over-consume. There was a time when we didn’t have enough food, or enough houses. But now we are overdoing it. Housing and agriculture are said to be two of the biggest contributors to climate change. If we do not throw away the food we take, we could reduce this by half.”

A Request for City Dwellers

Finally, Wangchuk requested the city dwellers to lead a simple life so as to make life easier for those in the mountains and environmentally fragile areas. “If we do not set our air conditioner to 18∘C in 45∘C Delhi, making a Ladakhi feel cold in a hot summer in Delhi, we can change things. So, I appeal to you all today, as I always do from the mountains of Ladakh, my message would be: ‘Please live simply in the big cities so that we in the mountains may simply live.’“

Tributes and Commendations

Sonam Wangchuk receiving the 7th Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award from the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu.

In his address, Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios, the Metropolitan of Delhi, shared his experience of visiting Wangchuk’s projects in Ladakh. “His work has to be seen to be believed. You have to believe what his ingenuity and coupling of engineering and environmental concerns produced in Ladakh. His environmental concerns are connected to reversing the demerits of present-day tourism. Building habitats that do not require ceiling fans, air conditioners, or air coolers is a marvel to experience.”

Sharing Ideals with Mar Gregorios

His Holiness The Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Supreme Head of the Church, said: “Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios was a profound thinker of the Orthodox Church. Imbued with ideals drawn from his Orthodox faith and an appreciation of India’s cultural and philosophic pluralism, he endeavoured tirelessly to promote interfaith dialogue and harmony and to establish development in a context—the sustainable use of natural resources. We see these very features and ideals in the person of Sonam Wangchuk.”

He further said about Wangchuk, “His efforts to use traditional knowledge for sustaining the environment and to use education as a tool to trigger innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth is praiseworthy. This world needs more leaders like him.”

Paying Tribute

Salman Khurshid, Former Union Minister, delivered the keynote address: “We reflect and remember and pay tribute to a great soul, the late Metropolitan Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios, in terms of reviving, reiterating, and underscoring his vision of humanity. Doing so extends that vision to our own times, and perhaps in times beyond, by recognizing the same quality and element in the aspirations of Sonam Wangchuk.”

Commendation from the Chief Guest

“Sonam Wangchuk’s tireless endeavours and continuing efforts to reform the architecture and technology of Ladakh’s habitats by making them environmentally friendly, and his ceaseless pursuit of educational reforms and pedagogical innovations have produced young men and women who occupy leadership positions at all levels of society, which are truly commendable,” said Venkaiah Naidu, Former Vice President of India and the Chief Guest at the Award function.

Adding to what Sonam Wangchuk said about climate change, Mr. Naidu said: “We should really work for environmental protection. We must safeguard ourselves to safeguard our future and future generations. I am happy that heads of different countries have come together to safeguard the environment. We need nature and culture together for a bright future. That’s my advice to the younger generation.”

A Special Acknowledgment

While delivering the vote of thanks, Fr. K. M. George, addressing Wangchuk, said: “Had Mar Gregorios been living today, he would have definitely travelled to Ladakh and stayed with you in order to learn from you about your work for the poor students, youth, and the village community. Himself an educator and a lifelong learner, he would have joyfully related to your innovative, simple style and method of nourishing community living in a natural environment. You would have given him new insights for his architectural vision of a new human civilization, urging an ecologically self-sustaining and peaceful existence for all life.”

The award ceremony was attended by many dignitaries from various walks of life. Including education heads, public servants, and religious leaders from different faiths. There was a large gathering of people witnessing the ceremony who came from various parts of Delhi NCR.

“Endowed with a versatile mind, Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios was a lifelong seeker of knowledge and a daring visionary. In all his voluminous philosophical and theological writings and speeches he built on the theme of shaping the future. The future of the human race. Future of our nation. Future of God’s creation at large. He suggested that we must continually practise the subtle art of making the image outlining the image of the future of humanity. Mar Gregorios called for a new concept of the human and a new paradigm for a new civilization. As a humanist committed to the well being of society and of all creatures big and small in our world, he affirmed all humanity as one single pluralistic unit. He believed in people in relationships and in community. And in the network of communities. Rather than in individuals and individual aspirations for success and achievement. Characterising his vision of a new civilization, mar Gregorios constantly advocated equal freedom of all human beings irrespective of gender, nation, language or religion. His style was ‘search for the common good’ understood especially as justice, peace, and a healthy environment for all life was geared to a new manava dharma rooted in Ahimsa and Karuna. He called for a deep and genuine respect for all religions and for secular options as well. In his well known inaugural speech at the 100th anniversary of the world parliament of religions in Chicago in 1993 Mar Gregorios stated “not one religion for all humanity, but one humanity for all religions.” 

A few words about Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios by his eminent student Fr K M George