Madhya Pradesh man inspires Anand Mahindra with his solo river cleanup drive

He was trolled for doing it “for views”; but now, even Anand Mahindra is calling him the reason for his Monday Motivation. A young man from Biaora has gone viral for cleaning a river, turning online criticism into admiration.

Bittu, popularly known as Bittu Tabahi, has drawn widespread attention after videos showed him cleaning parts of a river, even as some initially questioned his intent.

The criticism stemmed from claims that his efforts were driven by a desire for social media views. But as his work became more visible, so did its impact. Armed with little more than determination, Bittu took on the physically demanding task of clearing waste from the river, working persistently despite the odds.

Visuals of him wading through polluted water, pulling out debris, and restoring sections of the river have since struck a chord with viewers online.

Among those who took note was industrialist Anand Mahindra, who praised Bittu’s efforts in a social media post. Addressing the criticism, he wrote, “We usually complain that social media rewards the trivial rather than the meaningful.” He added, “So if a desire for ‘likes’ can become a force for good, that’s fine with me,” calling Bittu his “#MondayMotivation”.

Here’s the post:

Mahindra’s endorsement amplified the story, shifting the conversation from scepticism to appreciation. For many, Bittu’s work stands as proof that intent and impact matter more than perception.

What makes his effort remarkable is not just the scale of the task, but the persistence behind it. Cleaning a river, even partially, is no small feat, it requires time, physical effort, and an unwavering sense of purpose.

Today, Bittu’s story is being seen as a reminder that meaningful change can begin anywhere, even on social media, and that sometimes, the pursuit of visibility can lead to something genuinely impactful.