SANITATION CRUSADER

Bindeshwar Pathak's steadfast determination improved the state of public sanitation in India

- BEZWADA WILSON

I FIRST met Bindeshwar Pathak at a conference in Delhi, over two decades ago. Before this, I had heard about Sulabh Shauchalaya (community toilets set up by Pathak's non-profit Sulabh International) but had not known the person behind them. After we made acquaintance, he invited me to see the work that he had done. Since then, our paths crossed often during meetings, seminars and conferences of the water and sanitation sectors.

His determination and commitment to sanitation work was remarkable. At a time when governments were not able to provide toilets in public spaces to people across the country, he had set them up and ensured their maintenance quite well. And he did this not just in India, but also in other parts of the world.