Bunker Roy, who turns 80 today on 30 June 2025, has been among the most creative and inspiring personalities in voluntary organizations across the world. Over the past six decades, he has contributed such an immense volume of innovative development work that it would be enough for several lifetimes. Many of the ideas he initiated went on to become trendsetters for significant development initiatives.
After receiving his education at The Doon School and St. Stephen’s College (and also becoming a squash champion), Bunker chose a path marked by deeply different and often difficult challenges—immersing himself in grassroots development work in the villages of Ajmer district, Rajasthan. He was known for hands-on efforts, sometimes climbing down steep wells to repair and improve them. He made his tasks doubly difficult by refusing to compromise on his core values—chief among them, a firm belief in the equality of all human beings.
When the first team for future work was assembled with great difficulty, Bunker chose to dismantle the effort rather than tolerate the caste-based discrimination practiced by some members, who refused to eat food cooked by a Dalit colleague. He said he would rather work alone with his Dalit teammate than continue with a team that did not uphold equality (this was nearly six decades ago. Today, of course, Dalits and others work together in the team on the basis of full equality).
This principled stand made it clear from the outset that justice and equality were foundational to the Barefoot College’s rural interventions. The results of this commitment are visible today, as men and women from Dalit and other marginalized communities carry out beautifully skilled work. Gender equality too has been central to these efforts, with Aruna Roy in particular making a significant contribution to the renowned women’s mobilization and movement that began here.
Bunker also firmly believed that differently abled persons must receive every encouragement and opportunity to face challenges and realize their full potential. The results have again been exemplary, with several such individuals now playing vital roles in the work of Barefoot College.
These values—equality, justice, inclusion—emerged from Bunker’s wider belief, strengthened through years of experience, that villagers, including those from the poorest backgrounds, are fully capable of solving their own problems creatively, thanks to their deep understanding of local conditions. What they need is not charity, but an enabling environment that allows them to realize their inherent creativity and capability. This is precisely what Bunker and his team have tried to build, fostering cooperation and community spirit grounded in equality and dignity.
One of its most notable achievements has been in the field of solar energy. Even before governments launched major solar initiatives, Barefoot College had become a hub of innovative training and learning on rural applications of solar energy. Local village women came here to receive training, eventually becoming skilled enough to train women from dozens of countries in Africa and Asia—as well as from other parts of India. This beautiful example of international cooperation demonstrated just how transformative the model could be. "Sky is the limit" might be a cliché, but these words came to mind every time I observed or interviewed the women at work in this extraordinary initiative.
Equally impressive is the Barefoot College’s water conservation program. Built on the belief that even areas with low rainfall—such as parts of Rajasthan—can become self-reliant in water, the program combines modern understanding with traditional wisdom tailored to local conditions. While traveling through several villages to report on these efforts, I was deeply impressed by the intricate technical discussions between Barefoot College team members and experienced villagers—details that are crucial for sustainable success, especially when working with limited budgets.
These are just a few examples of the many-sided contributions made by Bunker Roy and the Barefoot College team over the decades. On a personal note, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to report extensively on these efforts.
Bunker Roy’s 80th birthday is an opportune moment to celebrate his legacy—and to hope for the continued flourishing of the values and work he has championed.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include A Day in 2071, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine, and India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food
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