Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Gitanjali J. Angmo: As activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi continues to keep pulling in national attention, public interest has also turned to his wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo. The social entrepreneur and educationist has slowly become one of Wangchuk’s steadiest supporters, openly backing his protest and even speaking about his health as worries around his condition seem to grow heavier by the day. The activist, who is believed to be the inspiration behind the character of Aamir Khan in ‘3 Idiots’, was first married to Rebecca Norman, an American citizen. However, the marriage ended in divorce.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Gitanjali J. Angmo
Gitanjali was born in Balasore, Odisha, to a Punjabi family. She studied Physics at Fakir Mohan University, then later completed an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB). After nearly six years in the corporate sector, she shifted gears toward education and broader social development.
She went on to set up Helios Books, AUM Hospitals and AUM Trust, organisations designed to move the needle in education, healthcare and community welfare. In 2017, she co-founded the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) along with Sonam Wangchuk, an institution that is known for promoting hands-on, skill-based learning that is meant for mountain communities.
Amidst Sonams deteriorating health, I mustered up courage to write this Op-ed for #thehindu as I want the whole nation, @dpradhanbjp, and @narendramodi to wake up to the crying need of a renewal and renaissance in #IndianEducationSystem. With thanks to the team at the Hindu!!… https://t.co/9HzJxgUaL8 pic.twitter.com/mTMHoTMfRh
— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 17, 2026
In a The Hindu opinion piece published on July 17, 2026, Gitanjali J. Angmo argued that India’s education problem is no longer mainly about getting to schools but more about the quality and the purpose of learning itself. She also outlined 10 structural reforms that she says are necessary if India wants to transform its education system for the AI era.
Other Achievements
Besides education, Gitanjali also has an engaging track record in sports, and she has spent time in the performing arts too, so it’s not just one single path for her.
She is a Black Belt in karate and won a world karate championship in the United States in 2009. She is also a trained Russian ballet dancer, Odissi performer, Hindustani classical musician and pianist.
Her profile also notes that she is a lifelong student of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy, the Vedas and the Upanishads, interests that have influenced her approach to education and leadership. Over the years, Gitanjali J. Angmo has received national recognition for her contributions to education and community development. She serves as the Founder, CEO and Dean of HIAL and was honoured with the Women Transforming India Award by NITI Aayog for her work in reimagining education in remote regions.
How She Met Sonam Wangchuk?
Gitanjali and Sonam Wangchuk first crossed paths at an education conference, where they stumbled into a shared belief about how India’s education system should be reshaped. In a few interviews, Gitanjali has said the connection happened right away, like they were often “finishing each others sentences” because their mindset about learning and social shift, lined up in a very similar way.
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Over time, the bond didn’t just stay as a marriage thing, it spilled into shared effort, and later led to the creation of HIAL. That work has since become well known for its creative education model across Ladakh.
Standing By Wangchuk During The Protest
Gitanjali has stayed very close to Wangchuk throughout his hunger strike. She has defended why he chose to step into the protest, saying it felt like a straightforward continuation of his years long dedication to reforming education.
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On Friday, after Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, she urged publicly that any medical care shouldn’t happen unless his family and the doctors who are watching his health have given their consent. She also pushed back on the need for the transfer, even while saying that his condition had stayed stable before the move.
