Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala Early Years and Academic Pursuits:
Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala was born on January 7, 1950, in Kanpur in a family of industrialists. His educational journey began at Methodist High School in Kanpur and continued at Sant Marry Convent High School in Ayodhya before completing his secondary education at Govt Intermediate College Ayodhya. After graduating in 1967, he pursued physics, chemistry, and mathematics at Christ Church College, Kanpur. He was captain of the boating club of the College. He then obtained his PhD in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida in 1973, at the young age of 23.
Activism and Teaching Career:
During his time at the University of Florida, he engaged in activism, both in sports and socio-political spheres advocating for the rights of black students and contributing to student publications and radio interviews. He volunteered at the Suicide and Crisis Intervention Service at the University. Here he counseled persons in distress, returning to India, he joined the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) as an assistant professor at the age of 23, where he organized a trade union during the Emergency, reflecting his commitment to social causes. Despite clashes with the Institute’s administration, he continued to champion employees’ rights until his resignation in 1979, disillusioned with the institutional constraints.
Transition to Entrepreneurship and Academic Pursuits:
Following his departure from IIM, Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala ran his family business in Ayodhya for 11 years, manufacturing strawboard until a strike by the workers led to its closure in 1991. He then joined the Institute of Development Studies in Jaipur as a fellow, only to encounter similar institutional constraints, prompting a shift towards writing columns and pursuing academic interests independently. He was awarded the Nachiketa Award for excellence in economic journalism by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Family and Personal Endeavors:
In 1979, he married Madhu, an announcer at All India Radio, and together they authored a book on women’s empowerment. Their daughters, Juhi and Radhika, pursued successful careers abroad, with Juhi working as a user interface expert with IBM in New Jersey and Radhika serving in the Foreign Ministry of the United Kingdom in London.
Environmental Activism and Legal Battles:
Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala’s relocation to Uttarakhand in 2002 marked a turning point in his activism as he opposed hydropower projects threatening the region’s biodiversity. His advocacy led to legal battles, including in-person appearances in the Uttarakhand High Court and the Supreme Court of India, resulting in the stay of 24 hydropower projects in 2013, a testament to his dedication to environmental conservation.
Scholarly Pursuits and Hypotheses:
Alongside his activism, he delved into religious and historical research, proposing a hypothesis that the origins of the Abrahamic religions lay in the ancient Indus Valley civilization. His travels across India and scholarly works culminated in publication of the book “Common Prophets of the Jews, Christians, Hindus and Muslims” in 2018, exploring their shared origins. Focused on bridging Western academic skepticism with his hypotheses, he has contributed numerous papers to Islamic and Western journals, challenging conventional narratives of religious history and archaeology.
Dr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala’s journey from academia to activism, entrepreneurship, and scholarly pursuits exemplifies a lifelong dedication to challenging conventions and advocating for social and environmental causes. His interdisciplinary approach and commitment to intellectual inquiry continue to inspire and provoke thought in diverse spheres of academia and activism alike.