2163rd BLOG POST
5th Book of 2026
Sometimes
I really get surprised by how little we know about personalities who have done
so much for our nation and its people. While picking up biographies, I ensure
that I also select books on individuals about whom I have not heard before.
This made me pick up a book on Bindeshwar Pathak, who is considered one
of the first people to take up the task of improving India’s sanitation system
and ensuring that toilets are built everywhere so that no one has to defecate
in the open and manual scavenging activities are reduced to zero. The world
noticed India’s toilet program in 2014, but someone like Bindeshwar Pathak had
been working on this mission since the 1970s being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
The
book, written in around 200 pages by Awadhesh Kumar Sharma and published
by Rupa Publications, benefits from the author’s opportunity to interact
directly with the subject of the biography. This made it easier for him to
understand the background stories and what led Bindeshwar Pathak to make this
the mission of his life. The book discusses how Pathak always felt sympathy and
sadness for people who were not treated equally right from his childhood. The
author then takes us through his early years, where his ethics and moral
practices are highlighted, helping us understand how he processed things internally.
He
closely observed society’s attitude toward untouchables and people involved in
manual scavenging. When he himself stayed with the scavenger community and
witnessed their struggles and living conditions, it deeply moved him. This led
to the founding of Sulabh International, which later became one of the
world’s largest sanitation NGOs, working toward installing double-pit
technology toilets across India. This innovation helped generate fertilizer for
plants while simultaneously removing the dependence on human beings for cleaning
waste on a daily basis.
Pathak’s
visionary spirit was evident from the fact that he not only worked to stop such
degrading practices but also ensured the rehabilitation, empowerment, and
social inclusion of those affected by them. His philanthropic outlook extended
beyond sanitation, as he also worked for widows, children, environmental
causes, and renewable energy initiatives.
His
Sulabh Sauchalaya mission did not just resolve the primary sanitation
problem but also led to the creation of several related initiatives, such as
the Sulabh Biogas Plant, water hyacinth utilization techniques, thermophilic
aerobic composters, effluent treatment technology, duckweed technology,
purified drinking water initiatives, the International Museum of Toilets,
biofertilizers, health centers, research and development laboratories, the WASH
campaign, SISASSS International School, and the Sulabh Sahitya Academy. Sharma briefly
discusses all of these, providing valuable insights into their scope and
impact.
In
the final section of the book, the author explores Pathak’s views on religion,
spirituality, creativity, and philanthropy, which reflect the multidimensional
personality he was. His poems and the intention behind writing them are
explained beautifully by Awadhesh, providing a meaningful conclusion to the
book.
Talking
about the drawbacks, I must say that the first two-thirds of the book primarily
focus on a single theme, and the author tends to over-explain certain segments,
which begin to feel repetitive after some time. I believe the author could have
included more unique incidents from Pathak’s life that would have provided
deeper insight into how such a personality thinks and makes decisions. This
aspect is largely missing from the book, except in one or two instances. Similarly,
how he managed his work and family life being so busy is also completely
excluded from the narrative.
Overall,
I must say that the book inspires hope and belief in how one individual can
bring enormous change to society and the world by taking issues close to heart.
I would give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
Thanks!
WRITING BUDDHA
0 CoMMenTs !!! - U CaN aLSo CoMMenT !!!:
Post a Comment