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In a world where people are either chasing material success or succumbing to mediocrity and conformity, 'a life of significance' appears almost utopian. Yet there are those among us who strive beyond the necessary and sometimes, even beyond odds, to make changes that contribute to a larger good. Our case study revolves around the life of a man who was determined to change a system that was not working, no matter how deeply entrenched the systemic patterns were. This is a story of commitment, resilience, creativity, relationships, and above all, the strength of character. This case will be used to explore and teach principles from positive psychology and leadership literature to examine how this systemic change was initiated and achieved despite severe challenges. Sonam Wangchuk initiated the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL). Sonam, by qualification, is an engineer, and those close to him describe him as an activist and a scientist. After the first five years, SECMOL started playing the role of a monitoring agency. Although the changes brought in many positive results, which were generally appreciated, the public exposure of those who resorted to malpractices became a challenge for certain Government officials and those teachers who were holding two jobs. These people started fabricating conspiracy theories against Sonam Wangchuk. Can Sonam continue to pursue his vision with the same spirit.? This case provokes the target audience to examine the dimensions of responsible leadership and the hurdles in change management.
Key Words: Change Management, Leadership, Positive Emotions, Resiliency, Responsible leadership
INTRODUCTION
On February 28, 2007, the evening turned out to be chilly for Sonam Wangchuk, a 41-year-old resident of the secluded and mountainous province of Ladakh in Jammu Kashmir. Taking another sip of his tea, Sonam intently pondered the government notices lying on his study table. It had been almost a year since the onset of this issue, but this time, Sonam worried that the situation was spiraling out of control. The government had just issued a notice against him with multiple allegations. These accusations included demoralizing government staff, illegal occupation of land, misuse of funds, and anti-national connections. Sonam had spent almost 18 years of his life working towards the betterment of education for Ladakhi children. That was the mission...