Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak (1943-2023) was an Indian sociologist. He is known as the founder of Sulabh International, Sulabh Hygiene Movement and Sulabh Toilet in India and around the world. He died of cardiac arrest in 2023 at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Wiki/Biography
He was born on Friday, April 2, 1943 (aged 80 years; at the time of death), in the village of Rampur Baghel in the district. Vaishali, Bihar. His zodiac sign is Aries. He studied in a government school in Rampur, Bihar. He studied at RDS College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, National College, Patna and Patna University. He graduated in Sociology from BN College, Patna in 1964. He received a master’s degree in sociology in 1980 and a master’s degree in English in 1986. He received his PhD in 1985 and his PhD in Literature in 1994.
family and caste
He was born into a Hindu Brahmin family.
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Dr. Rama Kant Pathak, an Ayurvedic doctor, and his mother’s name is Yogmaya Devi. He is the second of six siblings. In July 1965, he married Amora; she was a resident of Mehnar in Vaishali district of Bihar. They were blessed with three children – a son and two daughters.
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak and his wife
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak’s family
Profession
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak works hard to solve the problem of open defecation and manual waste picking. To solve this problem, he founded “Sulabh International” in 1973. Sulabh International is a non-profit entity; working towards the abolition of manual scavenging and spreading of hygiene and sanitation in India. The organization has helped build more than 1.5 million household Sulabh Shauchalayas (flushing toilets) across India, with nearly 20 million people using the facilities every day. Sulabh Shauchalyas’ toilet income exceeds Rs. 5 billion per annum. His trust has created employment opportunities for over 50,000 employees, responsible for the management of over 8,500 toilets across India.
Old photos of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak’s health projects
In the early days of starting his business, he encountered many obstacles, especially from his family. He said in an interview,
I was about five or six years old. There was a woman, who happened to be a Dalit, who often came to our village to sell some household items. One day I touched her and said something…all hell broke loose. My grandmother not only scolded me, but also made me eat cow dung, drink cow urine, and poured Ganges water on me to “purify” me. The incident left scars. I began to wonder why Dalits, who have the same flesh and blood as us, are treated inhumanely. I vowed to do something for them when I grow up. “
Initially, he was hesitant to work with Bhangi-Mukti Cell employees. citing his Brahmin family background. Previously, in India, the task of manual scavenging was mostly considered to be done by Dalits. He was inspired by Gandhian principles and therefore, he continued to work with the group without thinking about the caste system. When asked about the group, he revealed,
Initially, I was reluctant to stay with people who were considered “untouchables” by society because I was a Brahmin, but it was my job, so I agreed. However, I was soon moved to see the state of the manual scavengers… clearing pit latrines of human waste and carting it away for disposal. “
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak is doing manual cleaning work
On March 5, 1970, he took a loan of Rs. 50,000 people and founded Sulabh Svachchh Shauchalaya Sansthaan. His first project under the scheme was a 200 sq ft office in Patna. Later, to support this initiative, he leveraged corporate social responsibility fund support from State Bank of India, ONGC, Maruti, HDFC, Bharti Foundation and others. In 1980, the name was changed to Sulabh International. Everything went well at first, but at one point there was a crisis. He said in an interview,
The nonprofit needs money to operate but has no restroom orders. It got to the point where I had to sell my mother’s and wife’s jewelry to run it. I was almost broke and lost all hope. “
Things stabilized in 1973 when he received an order to build two toilets in Bihar’s Ara district and earned Rs. 500 from it. Soon, it became one of the most profitable industries in India for one-time investments. In 1973, Bindeshwar Pathak sought help from MLA Bhagdeo Singh ‘Yogi and wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ), highlighting the plight of manual scavengers. In response, Gandhi said she would contact the chief minister and ask him to personally resolve the issue.
Awards and Honors
- 2003: Listed in the “Global 500 Honor List” by the United Nations Environment Program; in the same year, he received the United Nations Habitat Honor Award
- 2004: International Award for Best Practice in Improving Living Environment in Dubai
- 2005: Received the Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
- 2009: Stockholm Water Prize
- 2015: CNN News- Indian of the Year 18
- 2016: Won the World Health Organization Public Health Champion Award and the New York Global Leaders Dialogue Humanitarian Award in the same year.
- 2017: Golden Peacock Lifetime Achievement Award, the same year, he received the Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academic and Management
- 2018: The 23rd Nikkei Asia Awards
- 2019: Gandhi Peace Prize
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak Awarded
- 2024: Padma Vibhushan (second highest civilian award)
address
Sulabh Bhawan, Palamdabri Road, Mahavir Enclave, New Delhi 110045
die
Bindeshwar Pathak passed away due to cardiac arrest on August 15, 2023, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He collapsed after unfurling the flag to celebrate Independence Day. He was quickly rushed to the hospital; however, he was pronounced dead at approximately 1:42 p.m.
fact
- He was born into a highly orthodox family that strongly believed in the caste system.
- According to the official website of Sulabh International Social Service Organization, Pathak was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. His work and values therefore resonate significantly with and contribute to the ideals and goals of the United Nations.
- His grandfather was a famous astrologer of his time. Dr. Bindeshwar said,
When I was two years old, my grandfather predicted that I would win a lot of fame and fame in life. “
- Born into a Brahmin family, he had to face opposition from his family and relatives because of his choice to work. He revealed in an interview
My parents, in-laws and society were angry with me because they thought it was an insult for a Brahmin to work for a lower caste, but I was here to fulfill Gandhi’s dream. “
- Sharing one of his experiences from his college days, he said:
I was too shy and introverted at that time. I still remember standing in line for college admissions, exiting every time I got to the door, then standing in line again… and finally the janitor caught me and forced me into the principal’s office! “
- Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak secured 54% marks in his first year of graduation and received a scholarship of Rs. 14 per month. He shared another experience from his college days and said:
My father used to send Rs. For an additional fee of $25 a month, “I used to stay at my uncle’s house in Patna and he took care of my food and accommodation. My friends were friendly and took me to the movies.”
- After graduation, he joined Gandhi High School as a casual teacher with a monthly salary of Rs. There are 80 people in his village.
- After marriage, he quit his job as a teacher and joined a thermal power station in Patratu, Ranchi (now Jharkhand) as an accounting assistant. After that job, he joined his father’s pharmacy business in Muzaffarpur. Later, he quit that job too.
- He started learning and understanding the true meaning of Gandhian principles when he joined the Bhangi-Mukti (Emancipation of Scavengers) group of the Bihar Gandhi Centenary Celebrations Committee in Patna. He said,
The committee was primarily dedicated to spreading Gandhi’s ideas and liberating manual scavengers from bad practices,” explains Pathak. “I slowly started being attracted to Gandhi’s ideals. My whole life changed. “
- Due to his noble work and contribution to society, he has received many honors and achievements. April 14, 2016 was announced as “BINDESHWAR PATHAK DAY” by DR. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
- To educate people more about the importance of toilets, his organization runs a toilet museum in New Delhi.
- He appeared in Sony TV’s game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, which aired on October 2, 2019 (on the special occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary).
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak at KBC
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education