Noted human rights activist Professor J.S. Bandukwala passed away at his residence in Vadodara on Saturday morning. He was 77.
Bandukwala was unwell for the last few days and had a couple of comorbidities, including diabetes and cardiac ailments. He lived alone at his residence in Pratapganj.
He is survived by his son and daughter.
A former professor of Physics at the MS University of Baroda, Bandukwala had also served as the president of MS University Students’ Union in 1981.
He was vocal against ghettoisation of Muslims and stood up for the rights of the marginalised.
In 2015, he had even written a letter to the then chief minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani raising objections to the move by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation to shift a slum dominated by Muslims to another area when local Hindus reportedly objected.
During the post-Godhra riots of 2002, Bandukwala’s house in Sama area of Vadodara was attacked and the family had to shift to Pratapganj. He continued to fight for inclusive society and said that he had to see beyond his loss.
Tributes poured in as soon as the news of Bandukwala's death spread. Noted litterateur G.N. Devy described Bandukwala as a person with rare moral courage. Gandhian Sudarshan Iyengar mentioned how as college students they were thrilled to listen to the novel ideas of Bandukwala.
Environment crusader Rohit Prajapati remembered him as a person with philosophy on one hand and implementation on the ground on the other hand.