Bunker Roy

Infobox Person
name = Bunker Roy

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image_size =
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birth_date = 1945
birth_place = Burnpur Bengal, present-day West Bengal
Alma Mater = Doon school, St. Stephen's College, Delhi
death_place =
occupation = Founder of Barefoot college
residence = Rajasthan, India
spouse =
parents =
children =
nationality = Indian
religion =

Sanjit 'Bunker' Roy (b. 1945) is an Indian social activist and educator. In 1972 he founded the Barefoot college in Tilonia, Rajasthan. The Indian non-governmental organization was registered as the Social Work and Research Centre. [ [http://www.indianngos.com/people/bunkerroy.htm] ]

In 2002 he was selected for Geneva-based Schwab Foundation's award. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/09/22/stories/2002092202240700.htm The Hindu : Swiss award for Bunker Roy ] ]

Early life

He was born in Burnpur Bengal, present-day West Bengal. He was educated at Doon School, a prestigious school in Dehradun and at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, India. After graduating he decided to do social service, to the shock of his parents.

Philosophy

Roy was influenced by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the key principles being sustainable development. He has said:

There is a mistaken belief that illiteracy is a barrier to the rural poor developing themselves with skills of their own. In other words a rural poor farmer, weaver, potter, leather worker, blacksmith and other artisans, because they have never been through a formal education system are not capable of producing high quality products with a marvelous eye for aesthetics and form. In the rural areas of India today, for instance, there are endless examples of rainwater harvesting structures for drinking water and sanitation still being used today that are hundreds of years old - constructed when there were no architects and engineers. [http://web.mac.com/udaydandavate/iWeb/Site/Bunker.html]

Fact|date=June 2008

Career

Roy dedicated his working life to the development of Tilonia village through Barefoot College. He even responded and worked on India's famine in 1967. [http://web.mac.com/udaydandavate/iWeb/Site/Bunker.html]

During the Rajiv Gandhi regime he unsuccessfully introduced legislation to bring transparency and accountability of NGOs, which was eventually withdrawn. [http://web.mac.com/udaydandavate/iWeb/Site/Bunker.html]

Awards

Bunker Roy has won many awards like the Arab Gulf Fund for the United Nations (AGFUND) Award for promoting Volunteerism, The World Technology Award for Social Entrepreneurship, The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, The Stockholm Challenge Award for Information Technology, The NASDEQ Stock Market Education Award, and the Tyler Prize. [http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail783.html]

Personal life

Roy married a former civil servant and Magsaysay award winner, Aruna Roy. [http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jul/26award1.htm] But in 1982 they were separated.

Articles

* [http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2000/issue1/0100p86.htm Village as Positive force for good governance]
* [http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail783.html A Talk by Bunker Roy]

References

External links

* [http://www.barefootcollege.org/ Official site of Barefoot College]
* [http://www.indianngos.com/interviews/bunker_roy.htm interview with bunker]
* [http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=Bunker_Roy_06 COMMUNITY HERO: BUNKER ROY]
* [http://web.mac.com/udaydandavate/iWeb/Site/Bunker.html Profile]
* [http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_03/uk/dossier/txt02.htm India’s Barefoot College generation]