Cinema VinesA 21‑year‑old from Biaora, Madhya Pradesh, known online as Surendra Singh Chaudhary or “Bittu Tabahi,” has captured national attention after a series of Instagram posts documenting his solo effort to clean the Ajnar River. The videos, which show before‑and‑after shots of the once‑polluted waterway, went viral and sparked a wave of admiration across social media.
Indian singer Chinmayi Sripaada, who recently lent her voice to the film “Dacoit: A Love Story,” took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Bittu’s initiative. She wrote, “This lovely boy ended up doing the work that some politician claimed to do and people with him and under him must have cleaned off the money. He has a bright future abroad where he’ll be respected. May the rivers and the holiness we pollute, protect and guide him. May he have a fantastic future.” Chinmayi also urged that both Bittu and another young cleaner, known as Sevendra, be considered for a Padma Award, saying that “both these guys need to be awarded with the Padma awards.”
The viral videos caught the attention of Dutch environmental entrepreneur Boyan Slat, CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. Slat invited Bittu to join his organization, offering him a job overseas after seeing the impact of his work. The offer underscores the growing global interest in grassroots environmental activism.
While Bittu’s actions were celebrated, they also attracted criticism from YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who accused Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of taking credit for the young man’s work. Rathee posted a comment on the CM’s Instagram, accusing the government of merely staging a PR photo‑shoot. Bittu responded, stating that the issue is “civic sense” rather than credit, and that the government had already appreciated his efforts. He urged the public to recognize their responsibility for cleanliness and to follow his example.
In addition to the online backlash, Bittu’s story has inspired other young Indians to take up river clean‑up projects. An X user posted a photo of another local youth, noting that “another kid from India who cleaned the river. This is the kind of trend, Indian Gen Z has set. Bravo!” The movement has highlighted how individual initiative can spark broader environmental awareness and policy discussion in India.
