Former Punjab DIG Receives Padma Shri, Continues Daily Cleaning Routine Uninterrupted
The morning of January 25th began like any other for 87-year-old Inderjit Singh Sidhu. At precisely 8:11 AM, a call from the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the retired police officer that he would be receiving the prestigious Padma Shri award. Rather than celebrating or informing his family, Sidhu simply picked up his broom and stepped out to continue what he does every single day – cleaning the streets of his neighborhood.
A Lifetime Habit of Cleanliness
Turning 88 this coming May, Sidhu has spent years personally cleaning roads, footpaths, and public spaces. His journey began in Chandigarh's Sector 49, where he lived for many years, and has continued for the past several months in Mohali, where he now resides with his daughter. The retired 1964-batch IPS officer, who served the Punjab Police for over three decades before retiring as DIG in 1996, maintains that his commitment to cleanliness stems from childhood lessons.
"My father was in the Army," Sidhu explained during an interview in July 2025. "From day one, as a child, we were taught to keep things clean – shoes, clothes, everything. That habit stayed with me during service and after retirement."
From Concern to Action
After settling in Chandigarh following his retirement, Sidhu grew increasingly disturbed by the accumulation of garbage and neglected public spaces near his home. He initially raised these concerns with civic authorities, but when improvements remained inconsistent and temporary, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
"I didn't plan anything," he recalled. "I saw dirt around me and felt uncomfortable ignoring it. So I started cleaning."
What began as small efforts near his home gradually expanded into a dedicated routine. For several years, Sidhu cleaned roads, footpaths, and public spaces around Sector 49, removing litter, collecting plastic waste, and clearing silt from drains. He would return repeatedly to the same stretches to ensure they remained clean, working alone without formal coordination with municipal staff or resident groups.
Quiet Dedication Away from Spotlight
Much of Sidhu's work was deliberately done when few people were around. "Many times, late at night, when nobody is there, I pick up the garbage cart used by sanitation workers and take it out to collect waste," he revealed. Family members expressed concern about his age and safety, prompting him to adjust his schedule. "They would tell me not to do it. So I started going out when it was quiet."
The former DIG's quiet dedication remained largely unnoticed until videos of him cleaning public spaces circulated widely on social media. The sudden attention worried his family considerably. "Once people started recognizing him everywhere, we were concerned about his wellbeing," said his son-in-law, Pushpinder Singh, a 67-year-old retired officer of the Punjab Rural Development Department. "That is when we brought him to stay with us in Mohali in July."
Padma Shri Announcement Met with Characteristic Humility
On the day his name entered the Padma awards list, there were no celebrations at the Mohali home. Sidhu received the call at 8:11 AM but didn't mention it to anyone. He returned home briefly for lunch before going out again to continue his work. The family only learned about the honor much later in the day.
"I came to know around 4 PM through a friend and then saw it on television," Pushpinder Singh revealed. "He never mentioned the call. There was no excitement or reaction. He just went about his work."
Sidhu, who lost his wife a few years ago and has his daughter settled in Mohali and son in the United States, continues to live by the principles instilled in him since childhood. Even national recognition couldn't interrupt what he considers his daily duty – maintaining cleanliness in public spaces, whether in Chandigarh, which he still calls the City Beautiful, or in his current karmabhoomi of Mohali.
The Padma Shri awardee's story stands as a testament to quiet service, demonstrating that true dedication to public welfare requires neither fanfare nor recognition, but simply consistent action day after day.
