In a deeply respectful tribute to a man who revolutionized sanitation and championed the rights of the marginalized, Shri Bindeshwar Pathak has been posthumously conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in the field of Social Work.
Hailing from Bihar, Shri Pathak was the visionary founder of Sulabh International, a pioneering social service organization that changed the landscape of sanitation and liberated thousands of manual scavengers from inhumane practices.
Born in 1943, Shri Bindeshwar Pathak devoted his life to the Gandhian ideals of equality, dignity, and cleanliness. In 1970, he founded Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, which went on to build over 1.5 million low-cost, eco-friendly toilets across India, directly impacting public health, women’s safety, and environmental hygiene.
His innovations — including the two-pit pour-flush toilet and public pay-and-use toilet complexes — brought affordable sanitation to millions, especially in urban slums and rural India.
Pathak’s mission extended far beyond toilets. He worked tirelessly for the eradication of manual scavenging, rehabilitating those trapped in it by providing education, vocational training, and employment opportunities — thus restoring dignity to thousands of Dalit families.
His work has been acknowledged globally, earning him numerous accolades, including the Stockholm Water Prize, and honorary doctorates from institutions around the world.
The Padma Vibhushan, awarded posthumously in 2025, recognizes Shri Bindeshwar Pathak’s unparalleled contributions to social reform, public sanitation, and human dignity.
President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt tributes, with PM Modi stating:
“Shri Bindeshwar Pathak dedicated his life to a cleaner and more equitable India. His work was not just about sanitation, but about restoring human dignity. This honour is a salute to his legacy.”
Though Shri Pathak passed away in 2023, his mission continues through Sulabh International, which today operates in multiple countries and inspires sanitation movements across the globe.
With the Padma Vibhushan, India commemorates a true social reformer, whose vision and compassion reshaped the lives of millions and will continue to guide generations to come.
