Waterman I Popularly known as ‘Jal Purush, Waterman of India

Dr. Rajendra Singh is a hardworking and fully dedicated worker. Dr. Rajendra Singh is a hardworking and fully dedicated worker. With this simple, frugal, true and non-violent ‘method’ for the prosperity of humanity and nature, we are all actively following the path of Mahatma Gandhi. He has pledged to make peace in the world through water. It can be done! May we all be together and have the moral strength to make this a reality!

Jal Purush, Waterman of India

Popularly known as ‘Jal Purush, Waterman of India’, Dr. Rajendra Singh is a renowned river rejuvenator and environmentalist. Born on August 6, 1959, in Dola village, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, he is an Ayurveda graduate and a postgraduate of Hindi literature. For his work, he has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees by the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad Karnataka 2014, Purnima University Jaipur in 2016, and from APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University Lucknow in 2019.

Ramon Magsaysay Award

Dr. Singh has been awarded several international accolades: Chiefly “Ramon Magsaysay Award” in 2001 for community leadership, “Jamnalal Bajaj Award” for use of science and technology for rural development, in 2005 and the Nobel prize for water the Stockholm Water Award in 2015.

Global Recognition 

The Guardian named him “in the list of the world’s 50 people in 2008 who can save the planet Earth.” He was also awarded the “Ahimsa” Award in 2018 from the House of Commons, United Kingdom, “Earth Repair” award in 2019 from US Seattle and the Prithvi Bhushan Award from New Delhi in 2019.

Tarun Bharat Sangh

He is the Founder and President of Tarun Bharat Sangh, established in 1975. It is its headquarters near Bhikampura Kishori, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Thanagazitehsil of Rajasthan, Alwar district and resides in this village. For the last 44 years, Tarun Bharat has prepared and supported society to construct 11,800 water structures.

Water and Village

More than 1,200 villages in the country are now water secure. Communities which were ‘water deprived’ and poverty stricken, now have water. As a result of their work, 12 rivers in the country have been revived: Arvari, Ruparel, Sarsa, Bhagani, Maheshwara, Sabi, Tibra, Sairni and Jahazwali in Rajasthan, Agarni and Mahakali in Maharashtra and Inchanahallain Karnataka. The effect of these works is that adaptation and mitigationof climate change has been achieved in 10,000 square kilometer area.

Africa and countries of Central and West Asia and Europe

It is the only example of the world today. The “Water Ethics, Justice and World Peace Tour” was initiated by Dr. Rajendra Singh in April 2015, which travelled to Africa and countries of Central and West Asia and Europe. At the centre of the tour or yatra were people who had become refugees as a result of water scarcity and who had moved to different parts of Europe.

World Tour

More than 20 countries in Africa, 20 countries in Central and West Asia and 20 countries in Europe, were covered under this tour. During this journey Dr Singh did an inspiring job of honoring nature and humanity by sharing his 40 plusyearsof successful experiences of climate changeadaptation and mitigation. As a result, many young people have increased thinking about water and nature.

Devotion, every day

They are moving away from greedy development into works of nature regeneration. Dr Singh is committed to save the world from the Third World War, which is being predicted as being due to water. As a result of his devotion, every day, in a new place, new people are engaged in increasing their love of nature and working for it. He considers the Panchamabhutas as God: In its prosperity is the prosperity of the entire living world. He is convinced that Non-violence is the only way to bring prosperity.

Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave

It is this belief that leads him and TBS on a non- violent path. He is engaged in the work of awakening consciousness by dedicating himself to water and nature day and night as a commitment to the 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi and 125 years of Vinoba Bhave. As a person who respects all religions and nature, Dr Singh considers Neer (water), Nari(woman) and Nadi (river) as Narayan or God. Mahatma Gandhi’s message is his way of life. That is why he is working with people, living and learning from them and making them aware of the power they have in creating a society that respects nature and humankind. In doing so, people create, learn from each other and also encourage others.

PIL in the Supreme Court

In 1991, Dr Singh filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, which saved Aravalli hills an forests in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The effect of this ledto protection of forests of India, by awakening a new consciousness, extending the advocacy process of conservation of water, water, land, wild animals and forest dwellers. The devastation caused by mining for economic prosperity for a few gave way to greenery by conserving water, water, and land and sustainable prosperity to many.

Loharinag Pala, Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati,

When the late Prof G D Agarwal was President of TBS and Dr Singh was the Vice President, the dams of Loharinag Pala, Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati, were being built on Bhagirathi River, the main river of Ganga. The construction of these dams were halted due to their efforts. This was the first instance in India, when the Center and the State Governments accepted the issue of making the river Ganga uninterrupted.

Traditional water conservation knowledge

Dr Singh is a strong advocate and staunch believer of traditional water conservation knowledge, restoration of groundwater reserves and community management of natural resources. Governments and industrialists do not have the sole right to groundwater.

Committed for nature and people

He is committed that nature and people also have rights over natural resources. In all the states across the country through water literacy drives, water meditation camps, water seminars and water conferences he has been instrumental in the formation of 111 groups, constitution of river parliamentsand Jalgram Sabhas.

Revival of pollution-free rivers

He is known for his work on water conservation and revival of pollution-free rivers and for eliciting public participation and ownership. His passion drives people to get involved and commit themselves. Recently, he has launched the “Seamless Ganga Water Literacy Tour” for the river Ganga.

Water Ethics, Justice and World Peace

In April 2015, the “Water Ethics, Justice and World Peace” journey had begun. Both tours/yatras will continue till 25 November 2020. Over the last 44 years of his life dedicated to society, he has provided solutions to issues of climate change, adaptation and eradication through the efforts of local communities, empowering them through water conservation and replenishing groundwater banks.

Solution for Water Problems

Dr Singh believes that the water problems are such that they cannot be solved by science or technology alone. What is required is community involvement, policy, leadership and use of local knowledge to arrive at local solutions. In the United Nations, the principle of ‘water is climate and climate are water’ is recognized by the success of local and ‘small efforts’ experiments.

(India CSR)