# Bunker Roy, Visionary Founder of Barefoot College, Dies at 81 The social activist transformed rural development by training illiterate grandmothers as solar engineers. - **Source:** [CleanTechnica](https://cleantechnica.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e1a0b8da-d21e-4186-b84d-06ee47c0e886 ## Passing of a Visionary Sanjit Bunker Roy, the founder of the Barefoot College, passed away at age 81 in Tilonia, Rajasthan. Known for his unconventional approach to rural development, he dedicated his life to empowering marginalized communities. His death marks the end of a career that challenged traditional education and promoted grassroots self-reliance. ## Origins of Barefoot College Born into privilege in 1945, Roy abandoned a conventional path after witnessing the Bihar famine in the 1960s. In 1972, he established the Social Work and Research Centre in Tilonia. The institution, later renamed Barefoot College, explicitly disqualified university graduates, focusing instead on the practical skills of rural villagers. ## Empowering Solar Mamas The college gained global recognition for training illiterate grandmothers as solar engineers. Roy specifically targeted grandmothers because they remain rooted in their communities, unlike younger men who often migrate to cities. These women undergo six months of hands-on training in India, using sign language to overcome diverse linguistic barriers. ## Global Impact and Reach By its 50th anniversary in 2022, the program had trained 1,708 women from 96 countries. These solar engineers brought electricity to over 75,000 households, saving 45 million liters of kerosene. Beyond energy, the college has provided safe drinking water to 1,650 schools and treated 300,000 patients through its health workers. ## Challenging Formal Education Roy operated under the conviction that there is no urban solution to a rural problem. His campus, built in 1986 by illiterate local architects, won an Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The college also features night schools where children elect their own cabinet, fostering leadership skills among the rural youth. ## Recognition and Legacy Roy received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 1986. In 2010, Time magazine named him among the 100 most influential people globally. Political figures like Shashi Tharoor praised his ability to prove that illiterate villagers possess the inherent wisdom and capability to lead sustainable development initiatives. ## Personal and Professional Life Roy is survived by his wife, Aruna Roy, a former civil servant who led the grassroots movement for India’s Right to Information Act. His work was supported by partnerships with organizations like the Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association, which helped facilitate the training of solar engineers in Borneo. ## Philosophy of Self-Reliance The legacy of the Barefoot College lies in its rejection of top-down development models. By prioritizing local knowledge and sustainable innovation, Roy demonstrated that rural populations can achieve self-reliance. His model continues to serve as a blueprint for inclusive economic growth, proving that formal degrees are not required for expertise. ## Sources covering this story - [CleanTechnica — Bunker Roy: The Visionary Who Empowered Rural Grandmothers as Solar Engineers](https://cleantechnica.com/2026/11/10/a-tribute-to-bunker-roy-the-man-who-turned-village-grandmothers-into-solar-engineers/) - [Scroll.in — Activist and Educator Bunker Roy Dies at 81](https://scroll.in/latest/1096983/activist-educator-bunker-roy-dies-at-81?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=public) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._