Barefoot College founder Sanjit Bunker Roy dies at 81 in Rajasthan
The social activist founded the Social Work and Research Centre in Tilonia to empower rural communities through local solutions.
Social activist and Barefoot College founder Sanjit “Bunker” Roy died at his home in Tilonia, Rajasthan, on Tuesday morning, according to The Hindu. He was 81 years old.
The Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC) stated that Roy passed away peacefully at 6:15 am, surrounded by his wife, activist Aruna Roy, and others.
Roy founded the SWRC, widely known as Barefoot College, in 1972 in the Ajmer district. The institution focused on a bottom-up approach, enabling villagers to manage resources independently through initiatives in renewable energy, water management, education, and healthcare. One of his most recognised programmes was the Solar Mamas initiative, which trained rural women with little formal education to become solar engineers.
The founder's commitment to rural development began after witnessing the 1966 Bihar famine. An alumnus of The Doon School and St. Stephen’s College, Roy was also a three-time national squash champion.
He chose to dedicate his life to addressing rural poverty rather than pursuing a career in the bureaucracy or corporate sector, as noted by writer Amitav Ghosh.
Roy received several honours, including the Padma Shri in 1986, the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 1985, and the Blue Planet Prize in 2011. In 2010, TIME magazine named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people. His funeral was held on Tuesday evening in Tilonia, according to The Indian Express.