Engineer and innovator from Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk, is under the national spotlight after coming up with the 'Ladakh Tent'. The tent was made keeping in mind Indian soldiers stationed at high altitudes.
Temperatures drop considerably and it is extremely uncomfortable without heating. The tent is completely solar-powered, eco-friendly, and ideal for when the outside temperature is below the freezing point. It keeps the inside of the tent heated up to a comfortable temperature of 15 degrees Celcius, even when the outside temperature is as low as minus 15 degrees Celcius.
The tent requires no external heating source apart from sunlight unless the inhabitant requires light sources, in which case electricity would be required.
The materials needed for the tent can all be sourced locally. The outside of the tent feels like a padded quilt, and water is used to keep the tent insulated. The tent can be set up very quickly, under a day, has an entry and an exit door, and can house up to ten people. It is an inexpensive, green innovation that can be set up anywhere. This is why Wangchuk is hopeful that India will be able to export these tents in the future rather than importing them from places like Russia or Europe. A prototype of the tent has been made available for public eyes as work is still in progress.
Wangchuk was the inspiration behind Amir Khan's character in the popular Bollywood film 3 Idiots.