Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International. document. | Image credit: Sandeep Saxena
Sulabh International founder, Padma Bhushan recipient, and social worker Bindeshwar Pathak died on Tuesday from cardiac arrest at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, shortly after he was admitted to hospital. Grandfather. Pathak is 80 years old.
Credited with bringing the revolutionary Sulabh Complex public toilet system to India, which significantly contributed to the reduction of open defecation and manual collection of trash, Mr. Pathak is closely tied to his nonprofit and “works to the end,” his associates say.
Source at AIIMS, Delhi says Hindus that man. Pathak was admitted to the hospital at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, shortly after that he went into cardiac arrest and died at 1:42 p.m.
Grandfather. Madan Jha, who has worked with him at Sulabh International for nearly two decades now, said Pathak’s departure left behind a wife, a son and two daughters and that the death was a shock to family members and all those close to him.
“He was singing and dancing until yesterday. Even today, he attends Independence Day celebrations at the Sulabh Complex in Delhi,” he said. Jha, 54 years old, tells Hindus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), saying, “The passing of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak Ji is a profound loss for our country. He was a visionary who worked hard for social advancement and empowered the oppressed. Bindeshwar Ji has made it his mission to build a cleaner India.
“He gave a lot of support to the Swachh Bharat Mission. In our various conversations, his passion for Swachhata was always evident. His work will continue to inspire many people. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Om Shanti.”
President Droupadi Murmu also expressed grief over his passing. Pathak passed away, saying, “Shri Pathak had a revolutionary initiative in the field of cleanliness. He was honored with many awards including Padma Bhushan. My condolences to his family and the members of Sulabh International.”
Born and educated in Bihar, Mr. Pathak established the Sulabh International Social Services Organization in 1970 to introduce a system of public toilets in India that would become a feature of hundreds of towns. He was conferred Padma Bhushan in 1991 for social work and later became an ambassador for the government Swachh Bharat Mission.
Over time, Sulabh International also contributes to the welfare of those involved in manual scavenging and helps them escape from the profession. The organization was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2016, along with the Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Grandfather. Jha said, “He was always thinking about society and working for the country and his work speaks for itself. We are speechless.”
Other leaders around the country also offered their condolences, with Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda also posting a message on social media in which he said he was. Pathak’s contributions to making sanitation accessible to all are “unique”.
Union Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar also expressed condolences, saying, “The news of Dr Padmabhushan’s death. Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International, who has made cleanliness an integral part of life and provides accessible toilets to remote areas of the country, is sad. Condolences to the bereaved family and reverent remembrance of the departed soul. Om Shanti.”
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