Meet ‘Tabahi’, the college-goer who went viral for cleaning a pond

Surendra Singh Chaudhary, known as “Tabahi” on Instagram, gained national attention for cleaning a pond near his home in Madhya Pradesh. Despite having no formal backing or support, the 21-year-old spent his days, starting at 6 am, cleaning the polluted waterbody near a local temple. He began noticing the pond's filthiness and felt compelled to act, leading to a larger project of cleaning India's Ajnar River.

His efforts took nine months and cost around Rs 30,000 of his own money. His name, Tabahi, translates to 'devastation,' but it also reflects his dedication to the cause. Tabahi's Instagram following grew to 1.9 million followers after his efforts went viral. He faced criticism for possibly seeking publicity, but the visible transformation gradually changed public opinion.

Now, local authorities provide assistance for his clean-up projects. Despite the physical risks and costs, Tabahi remains committed to his mission of revitalizing polluted water bodies across states.