Sanjit Bunker Roy, founder of Barefoot College, passes away at 81

Renowned reformer Sanjit Bunker Roy passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday morning at his residence in Tilonia, located in Rajasthan's Ajmer district. He died peacefully at 6.15 a.m. with his wife, fellow activist Aruna Roy, and close associates beside him, according to statements from his peers.

The Barefoot Movement

Roy established the Social Work and Research Centre in 1972, which later became widely known as the Barefoot College. The institution focused on rural self-reliance, clean water projects, healthcare, and solar power initiatives inspired by Gandhian ideals. Over the decades, the organisation trained millions of villagers, including grandmothers with no formal schooling, to become solar engineers, teachers, and midwives who could independently power and support their home communities.

Tributes and Legacy

Public figures shared heartfelt tributes following his passing. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot praised his remarkable efforts toward rural independence. Parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor noted that Roy proved how semi-literate villagers possessed the capacity to lead and innovate. Trinamool Congress leader Sagarika Ghose called him a giant of the grassroots movement, while writer Amitav Ghosh remembered him as a true pioneer. Nikhil Dey announced that the final rites would take place in Tilonia later that afternoon.

Context

Bunker Roy received the Padma Shri in 1986, and Time magazine later named him among the world's most influential people in 2010 for his educational work. His passing marks the end of an era for grassroots development models that put technical skills directly into the hands of ordinary villagers.