From Dandi March to Plogging: A Revolution in Progress

"PM Modi praises the plogging efforts of Ripudaman," read the headlines. The name immediately struck a chord...Yes, Ripudaman, "the undeclared, yet unanimously accepted leader of the group"... hadn't I thus referred to him in my last blog? 

Apparently, the PM mentioned him and his plogging efforts in his monthly address,  'man ki baat', and since I am not too fond of his endless monologues, I had missed the bouquet of praises  he showered upon this young plogger and his team. So inspired was the PM and his entourage that the sports ministry decided to hold a 'Fit India Plogging Run' event in the capital city to commemorate  the150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. And indeed, it's a befitting  tribute to  a leader, who, throughout his life, championed  the cause of hygiene and cleanliness.

For  my mom and every one else in the family, who had recently enjoyed the opportunity to briefly host Ripudaman, and his team, it felt almost surreal to see him hit the headlines.

While the idea of plogging emerged from Sweden a while back, Ripudaman is credited with making it popular in India, and highlighting the need to do something in a hurry in the wake of the mounting litter problem. "I do not wish to be a preacher," he says, adding, "I can only lead by example". And, that he does. In the restaurant, he requests the waiter to remove the tissue box from our table, since it is not needed. He doesn't even want a typed out  bill, for that's a waste of paper too. "Just let me know the damage," he tells the manager. And,  by doing that he is not only saving paper and ink, but also ridding the humanity of its inherent vice of mistrustulness.  

Nicknamed the plog-man of India, on meeting Ripudaman, you realise that this young man doesn't just aspire to make headlines, he is eager to make headway into solving the impending garbage problem the planet faces.