Published : 07 Sep 2026, 05:33 AM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:48 AM
A young man in India has spent months wading into a polluted river to pull out plastic and rubbish with his bare hands, according to The Independent.
Surendra Singh Choudhary, known online as “Bittu Tabahi”, began cleaning the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh in January, embarking on a solo mission after his friends stopped helping.
Choudhary, a 21-year-old science student from the small town of Biaora, told NDTV that he had told his parents he was going to play cricket when he was actually heading to the river.
Rubbish near a temple he visited prompted him to act, The Independent reported, and he continued through the seasons despite lacking safety gear and being unable to swim.
“I wanted to make a machine to clean the river, but I didn't have the money. So I thought, I will clean as much as I can with my own hands,” he told The Indian Express, adding that contact with the water had caused infections and skin peeling.
Choudhary and his friends pooled around Rs 30,000 (around Tk 39,000 at current exchange rate) for equipment and dustbins, with no outside funding, he told The Independent.
As before-and-after photos spread online, Choudhary began attracting wider attention. Indian businessman Anand Mahindra shared a video of his work on X, calling him his “Monday Motivation”.
Dutch inventor Boyan Slat, founder of The Ocean Cleanup, responded to a post about Choudhary’s work on Friday with a simple invitation: “Come work for us.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met Choudhary at his residence in Bhopal on Saturday and praised his efforts.
Some critics questioned whether the images were genuine or AI-generated, but Choudhary denied the claims, pointing to the months of work involved.
Municipal authorities in Biaora have since provided heavy machinery to help clear the waste, while residents have also joined the effort, sub-engineer Rupesh Kumar Netam told ANI, according to The Independent.
Choudhary said clearing rubbish solves little while five drains continue to discharge wastewater into the river. A proposed treatment plant would cost Rs 147.7 million (about Tk 192.15 million).
Religious offerings left by worshippers add to the waste, though he has begun composting some of them rather than letting them accumulate. Still, he admits he cannot control what others discard.
“I don't know why people throw garbage in the river,” he told the Times of India. “You can't stop them.”
