Renowned Social Activist Sanjeet Bunker Roy Passes Away at 81 in Rajasthan
Sanjeet Bunker Roy, founder of Barefoot College and a champion of rural empowerment, has died at the age of 81.
Tilonia, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : Sanjeet Bunker Roy, the esteemed founder of Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 81. His lifelong dedication to rural development, education, skill enhancement, and solar technology has significantly empowered women in underserved communities.
Roy’s wife, Aruna Roy, is also a prominent social activist known for her pivotal role in India’s Right to Information (RTI) movement. He breathed his last around 6:15 AM.
Under Roy’s leadership, Barefoot College gained international recognition for its innovative approaches to rural development, renewable energy, and community empowerment. He played a crucial role in training rural women, including elderly women with little or no formal education, to become solar engineers.
Aruna Roy has been an influential figure in social activism, and the couple’s efforts have inspired many. Condolences poured in from various quarters, including Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who expressed deep sorrow over Bunker Roy’s passing. Gehlot noted that Roy’s work was deeply rooted in the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, contributing remarkably to rural self-reliance, education, and development.
Reflecting on their relationship, Gehlot mentioned that he had known Roy for many years and had recently visited him and Aruna at Barefoot College.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also mourned Roy’s death, extending his sympathies to Aruna Roy and their family. Tharoor highlighted Roy’s lifelong commitment to empowering rural communities. He emphasized the college’s role in training rural women, particularly grandmothers, in establishing and maintaining solar lighting systems, which have transformed the lives of communities with limited access to electricity.
In 1972, Sanjeet and Aruna Roy established the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC) in Tilonia, which later became known as Barefoot College. The institution operates on the principle that rural communities possess the knowledge and skills necessary to address their challenges. Rather than relying solely on external experts, it trains locals to become problem-solvers within their communities.
Barefoot College offers programs in solar energy, hand pump repair, rainwater harvesting, handicrafts, and other practical skills. One of its most notable initiatives trains rural women, including those without formal education, to install, maintain, and repair solar energy systems. These women, affectionately known as “Solar Mamas,” have been empowered to bring electricity to remote villages in India and beyond.
Born as Sanjeet Roy into a distinguished Bengali family, he became internationally recognized as Bunker Roy. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations in the field of social activism and rural empowerment.
