Recently, a 21-year-old youth from India became popular online. Surinder Singh Jodhri from the Rajgar District in Central Pradesh is known online as “Bitu Tabashi”. He gained attention recently for his efforts to clean the Ajnalar River.
Bitu Tabahi is a student and environmental volunteer. He was shocked by the large amounts of plastic, algae, sludge, and odors accumulating on the Ajenaar River, and decided to take action instead of waiting for the authorities. He launched a cleanup operation on January 26, 2026.
Although he initially worked with a few friends, it quickly became a task that he had to carry out alone. He only had basic tools and no safety equipment. Moreover, he couldn’t swim, so he had to use his hands to clear tons of garbage from the river.
Bitu Tabbahi used his own savings to buy cleaning supplies. This hard work seriously damaged his health. He suffered from infections in his limbs, skin rashes, and even encountered snakes.
His efforts made him a local hero, and attracted the attention of Mohan Yadav, the Chief Minister of Central Pradesh. Yadav invited Bitu Tabashi to his official residence. Yadav praised his actions and assured him that the government would provide support.
Bojan Slat, founder and CEO of the Dutch environmental organization "Sea Clean", saw a post on the X platform and left a message inviting him to "work for us".
