A 21-year-old student from central India took on a task that seemed impossible to many: cleaning up the Ajnar River, which had become a dumping ground for waste.
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Surendra Singh Choudhary, known on social media as “Bittu Tabahi,” began entering the polluted waters of the river in January in the state of Madhya Pradesh. With his own hands, he removed plastic, bottles, algae and various types of waste.
During the first few days, some of his friends also took part in the effort. However, as they gradually withdrew, Choudhary continued the mission almost alone and returned to the river every day.
He told his parents he was playing cricket
The student attends university in the small town of Biaora and lives with his parents. To avoid worrying them, he initially told them he was going to play cricket or meet his friends. In fact, he was going to the Ajnar River to continue the cleanup.
He decided to act after seeing the river’s dire condition. It runs near a temple that the young man often visited.
“Whenever I went to the temple or passed by the river, I thought that I should clean it,” Choudhary recalled. That idea turned into an effort that continued for months.
Even though he did not know how to swim
The work did not stop because of difficult weather conditions or the hot summer nights. Choudhary had no special protective equipment and admits that he did not even know how to swim.
“I wanted to build a machine to clean the river, but I did not have the money. I am a student. So I thought I would clean as much as I could with my own hands,” he said.
Constant contact with the polluted water also affected his health. The young man suffered infections, while the skin on his hands and feet began to peel.
Together with his friends, he raised the money for the equipment he needed. According to Choudhary’s own calculations, the effort cost him around 30,000 rupees, or approximately 230 euros. He also placed bins near the river, without receiving financial assistance from the state.
International attention for a story that began in a small town
Photos and videos showing the river before and after the cleanup began circulating online, making the story known beyond Biaora. Indian entrepreneur and Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra posted a video of the effort on X after some people accused the young man of acting only to become famous on social media.
“If the desire to get likes can be turned into a force for doing good, then I have no problem with that,” Mahindra wrote.
The case was also shared by Kevin Pietersen, the former captain of the England cricket team. He posted photographs of the river before and after the intervention, describing the work as “A heroic effort. Deserves international recognition.”
However, some internet users questioned the authenticity of the photographs and claimed that the “before and after” images had been created with artificial intelligence. Choudhary responded to the criticism by publishing evidence of the work carried out over the months and documenting an effort that, for the most part, he had undertaken alone.
After the story spread widely, the local authorities in Biaora decided to support the initiative. They sent machinery to remove the large quantities of waste, while local residents also became involved in the cleanup.
But according to the 21-year-old, removing the waste does not solve the problem if pollution continues.
“It is not enough to remove the waste”
Five large sewage pipes discharge wastewater into Biaora’s river. Objects and materials thrown into the water during certain local religious practices also contribute to its pollution, including flowers and other items. Choudhary collects some of these materials and uses them to produce compost.
“I do not understand why people throw waste into the river. I do not know why they do it. You cannot stop them,” he said.
Despite this, the student’s initiative has begun to influence the way the community views the river. His story has attracted attention outside India as well.
On Friday, Boyan Slat, the Dutch inventor and founder of The Ocean Cleanup, responded to a post about Choudhary’s work with a brief invitation: “Come work with us.”
Meanwhile, Mohan Yadav, the head of the state of Madhya Pradesh, received the 21-year-old at his residence in Bhopal and publicly praised him for his effort.
Choudhary, who initially told his parents he was going out to play cricket, has now become an example of someone who began cleaning a waste-filled river alone and later inspired an entire community to join in bringing about change.
