From Cleaning a Polluted River Alone to an International Job Offer: Meet ‘Bittu Tabahi’

A 20-year-old student from Madhya Pradesh has turned a personal mission to clean a polluted river into an inspiring environmental story. Surendra Singh Choudhary, popularly known as ‘Bittu Tabahi’, began cleaning the Ajnar River in Biaora largely on his own. His determination caught the attention of people across India and eventually reached Boyan Slat, founder of Netherlands-based The Ocean Cleanup, who invited him to “come work for us.”

Who is Bittu Tabahi?

Surendra Singh Choudhary, a 20-year-old BSc student from Biaora in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district, has become known online as ‘Bittu Tabahi’.

He began documenting his efforts to clean the Ajnar River and sharing videos and before-and-after images on Instagram. His posts show him removing plastic, algae and other waste that had accumulated in different parts of the river.

Choudhary began the cleanup drive on January 26, Republic Day, initially working on his own. His determination eventually caught the attention of the local municipal corporation, which joined the effort and provided machinery to help remove larger quantities of waste.

Why did he start cleaning the river?

Choudhary had initially thought about developing a machine that could help remove waste from the river. However, he did not have enough money to build it.

He eventually decided that he could begin the work himself. Speaking to ANI, he said that Republic Day gave him an opportunity to do something meaningful and that he continued the cleanup after starting on his own.

The Biaora municipal corporation later supported his campaign by deploying JCB and Poclain machines to remove large amounts of polythene and other waste.

According to digital creator KR Talks, Choudhary has spent around ₹30,000 on the cleanup effort so far.

How did Bittu Tabahi become viral?

Choudhary's before-and-after posts and videos of the Ajnar River attracted attention on social media. His content highlighted how much could be achieved through consistent individual effort.

He also responded to people who questioned whether a single person could make a difference. His work on the river became an example of how one person's initiative can inspire wider community participation.

International recognition and job offer

Choudhary's efforts eventually attracted attention outside India.

Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of Netherlands-based non-profit The Ocean Cleanup, came across a social media post featuring Choudhary's river-cleaning work.

After seeing the before-and-after photographs, Slat responded with a simple invitation:

“Come work for us.”

The message effectively turned Choudhary's local environmental initiative into an international story.

From beginning the cleanup alone in Biaora to receiving recognition from an organisation working on ocean pollution, Bittu Tabahi's journey has highlighted the impact that individual environmental action can have.