Social activist Sanjit Bunker Roy dies in Rajasthan
The Barefoot College founder passed away at age 81 in Tilonia on Tuesday morning.
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.
Mr. Roy passed away at 6.15 a.m. in the presence of his wife, social activist Aruna Roy, and others close to him. Activist Nikhil Dey stated that the funeral will take place in Tilonia at 4 p.m.
In 1972, Mr. Roy founded the Social Work and Research Centre, popularly known as Barefoot College, in Tilonia. The institution focuses on rural development, including solar energy, water conservation, healthcare, and livelihood activities.
The college is known for training rural people, including women without formal education, to install solar lighting systems and manage other technical tasks. His approach was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideas of village self-reliance.
Mr. Roy received the Padma Shri in 1986 and was named one of the 100 most influential personalities by Time magazine in 2010. The magazine noted that Barefoot College had trained more than three million people for various roles.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Mr. Roy made remarkable contributions to rural self-reliance and education. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described him as a visionary who dedicated his life to empowering rural India.