The story of cleaning the Ajnar river, which was previously filled with trash, has become a topic of discussion across the country thanks to the efforts of 20-year-old Surendra Singh Choudhary, known as Bittu Tabahi, from Madhya Pradesh. He took the initiative to clean the river without expecting help from large organizations or external resources. He personally went into the river, removed trash, and continued cleaning non-stop.
A video of his campaign went viral on social media, after which a company/NGO from the Netherlands offered him a job. However, instead of leaving abroad to start working, Bittu decided to stay in his country and continue his activities.
In an exclusive interview with AajTak, Bittu detailed his journey, his family, the foreign offer, and his message to the youth.
When asked about the origin of the name 'Bittu Tabahi,' he replied that he invented it himself. He felt that if he wanted to achieve something significant, his name should be memorable, so he chose 'Bittu Tabahi.' Later, people began recognizing him by this name on social media.
He explained that he noticed a huge amount of dirt and garbage in the river, and the situation was constantly worsening. He concluded that if everyone waited for someone else to come and clean it up, nothing would change. Therefore, he started cleaning independently, going into the river. Initially, this work was not easy: descending into the river, removing, and hauling out the dirt required great effort. Nevertheless, he decided to do it daily, and gradually it turned into his mission.
When asked if his family was upset about him doing this work at an age when he should be building a career, he reported that his family was initially unaware of this activity. They did not know that he was working so diligently every day to clean the river. Since his family does not use social media, they did not learn about the viral spread of his work. Only after his video became popular did he tell them about his actions.
Bittu shared that he has parents and two sisters in his family. He is the only son of his parents. His father works in the health department, and his mother is a homemaker. Both his sisters are already married.
When his video went viral and the job offer from abroad followed, he said he received this offer from a company/NGO from the Netherlands via the X platform. A CEO from the Netherlands mentioned him on X and offered him a job. However, he did not pay much attention to this offer. He stated that he had no desire to go abroad; he wants to stay in his country and do something big for his homeland. For him, the most important thing is having the opportunity to contribute to improving the lives of others and the environment here.
Yes, he continues to study, being a second-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) student. He intends to continue his public service work alongside his studies, believing that education and working for the good of society can go hand in hand.
In response to comments on social media claiming he is doing this for views and popularity, he replied that people on social media say whatever they want. He emphasized that sometimes people came who did a small cleanup once or twice a month, but he worked on it daily. His goal was never to create videos or get views; he made constant efforts because he considered river cleaning necessary.
He clarified that he financed this work from his own funds. Occasionally, small online donations were received, but he did not start this work expecting major help. He added that the district administration and local residents provided assistance when needed, supplying necessary resources when required.
He was scheduled for a meeting in the Chief Minister's office. There, his work was highly appreciated and supported. The head of the government assured him that he could contact him if he needed any further assistance and promised state support if necessary. It was a great honor for him that his work was taken so seriously.
He urged the youth not to waste their lives on drugs and alcohol. Instead, he advised them to do something that would bring glory to their family and country. He noted that if every young person tried to solve one problem in their surroundings, it could lead to huge changes. He doesn't have to clean rivers; someone can plant trees, help poor children with their studies, or maintain cleanliness around themselves—even a small step can cause a big change.
