“At an age when most people slow down and embrace a quiet retirement, 88-year-old Inderjit Singh Sidhu, a former IPS officer and once a Deputy Inspector General, chooses a different path.
Every morning at exactly 6 a.m., Sidhu steps out onto the streets of Chandigarh with a broom in his hand and a bag for collecting trash. It is not his job. No one asked him to do it. He simply could not bear to see the dignity of his city deteriorate.
After retiring from service, Sidhu initially raised complaints with the authorities about the growing garbage problem. When no visible change followed, he decided to replace complaints with action. Carrying a simple bag, he began cleaning the streets alone.
At first, people laughed. Some even called him “crazy.” But he did not stop.
Gradually, his quiet effort turned into a movement. Neighbours joined in. Family members stepped forward. What began as one man’s personal responsibility evolved into a collective awakening. The “City Beautiful” found in him one of its most sincere and selfless guardians.
Sidhu humbly says:
“There is no shame in cleaning. Cleanliness is service to God.”
In recognition of his spirit of lifelong public service and this extraordinary commitment, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in the Unsung Heroes category this Republic Day.”
Every morning at exactly 6 a.m., Sidhu steps out onto the streets of Chandigarh with a broom in his hand and a bag for collecting trash. It is not his job. No one asked him to do it. He simply could not bear to see the dignity of his city deteriorate.
After retiring from service, Sidhu initially raised complaints with the authorities about the growing garbage problem. When no visible change followed, he decided to replace complaints with action. Carrying a simple bag, he began cleaning the streets alone.
At first, people laughed. Some even called him “crazy.” But he did not stop.
Gradually, his quiet effort turned into a movement. Neighbours joined in. Family members stepped forward. What began as one man’s personal responsibility evolved into a collective awakening. The “City Beautiful” found in him one of its most sincere and selfless guardians.
Sidhu humbly says:
“There is no shame in cleaning. Cleanliness is service to God.”
In recognition of his spirit of lifelong public service and this extraordinary commitment, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in the Unsung Heroes category this Republic Day.”
