Honouring the visionary behind India’s sanitation revolution

Dr. Pathak

On April 2, 2025, Sulabh International inaugurated the Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak Memorial Centre on his 82nd birth anniversary. The Memorial chronicles the life and work of Dr. Pathak, who led a nationwide sanitation movement to persuade millions of India to adopt an affordable toilet system that he developed in 1968.

“Subsequently, over the next five decades, he used toilet as a symbol of his movement to promote dignity and human rights of millions of Indians, particularly women who worked as manual scavengers, cleaned dry latrines and faced severe discrimination in the society. His compassionate actions and vision earned him global recognitions, notably Stockholm Water Prize and the Padam Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of India.”

“Not Just the Founder of Sulabh, but the Soul of a Movement That Restored Dignity to Millions.”

Dr. Pathak wrote about the movement he initiated and headed for 55 years in two chapters for Horizon International’s book, Water and Sanitation Related Diseases and the Environment: Challenges, Interventions and Preventive Measures:  “The Sanitation Challenge in India,” and “Household Centered Environmental Sanitation Systems.”  The chapters are accompanied by videos available on the book’s publisher’s website booksupport.wiley.com.

Book

“On April 2, 2025, Sulabh International proudly marked the 82^nd birth anniversary of its revered founder, recipient of Padma Vibhushan – Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, with the inauguration of Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Memorial Centre and the inauguration of his statue at Sulabh Gram, New Delhi.

“The inauguration ceremony was graced by eminent dignitaries who paid heartfelt tributes to Dr Pathak’s pioneering work in sanitation and social transformation:

·       Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Former President of India (2017 – 2022)

·       Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles, Government of India

·       Shri Ram Nath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India

·       Shri Nitish Mishra, Minister of Department of Industries, Government of Bihar

“In his tribute to Dr Pathak, former President Hon’ble Shri Ram Nath Kovind emphasized the need to institutionalize the study of Sociology of Sanitation in Indian universities which was pioneered by Dr Pathak. Hailing Dr Pathak’s vision and scholastic contribution, he urged institutions of higher learnings to incorporate sanitation as a part of social sciences curriculum.

“In a special message, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hailed Dr Pathak as a “pioneering Swachhagrahi” whose innovations in cost-effective, eco-friendly sanitation revolutionized public health in India. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the newly inaugurated Memorial Centre would not only preserve Dr Pathak’s legacy but also inspire continued learning and innovation in the field.”

“Shri Kumar Dilip, President of Sulabh International, called the Memorial Centre a living tribute to Dr Pathak. He described the centre as a beacon of compassion, innovation, and social justice for future generations.

The above quoted text was authored by dev-sulabh-admin

https://www.sulabhinternational.org.

There are several articles on the Horizon Solutions Site that describe Dr. Pathak’s successful initiatives:

electricity | HORIZON SOLUTIONS SITE

solutions-site.org › taxonomy › term

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak received the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize at a Royal Award Ceremony and Banquet during the World Water Week in Stockholm on August 20. Tue, ...

Water and Sanitation | HORIZON SOLUTIONS SITE

www.solutions-site.org › taxonomy › term

Bindeshwar Pathak received the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize at a Royal Award Ceremony and Banquet during the World Water Week in Stockholm on August 20. Tue, 11/ ...

Water and Sanitation Related Diseases and the Environment

www.solutions-site.org › node

Bindeshwar Pathak, Sulabh International Service Organization. “Horizon seeks to find and advance solutions thereby supporting ideas and initiatives that aim to ...

Realizing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All

www.solutions-site.org › node

Jan 30, 2014 ... Bindeshwar Pathak with the Sulabh International Social Service Organization, has built more than 1.2 million two-pit pour-flush toilets and over ...

 https://www.solutions-site.org/node/532

Cover photo:  Bindeshwar Pathak receiving the Indian Affairs Social Reformer of the Year 2017 award from Satya Brahma, founder of India Leadership Conclave

Credit:  Sanaha222, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons