Chandigarhs 88-year-old broom warrior Inderjit Singh Sidhu receives Padma Shri from President Murmu
The 88-year-old former Deputy Inspector General of Police was among 65 eminent personalities conferred Padma awards during the second phase of the 2026 investiture ceremonies.
PTC News Desk: In a moment of glory for Chandigarh, 88-year-old retired Punjab Police DIG Inderjit Singh Sidhu. has bene conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The 88-year-old former Deputy Inspector General of Police was among 65 eminent personalities conferred Padma awards during the second phase of the 2026 investiture ceremonies. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan and other dignitaries.
Former Punjab Police officer Padma Shri awardee Sidhu has spent nearly 30 years cleaning Chandigarh’s streets, parks and public places every morning since retiring in 1996.
“People do not feel ashamed while littering; instead, they feel ashamed while cleaning,” Sidhu had told The Tribune ahead of the ceremony. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, he often says that keeping the earth clean is a moral obligation. “The air is the Guru, water the father and the earth the mother. If someone spreads filth on their mother, there is no one worse than them,” he remarked.
Long before cleanliness drives became a nationwide movement, Sidhu could be seen pushing a cycle cart through city neighbourhoods, picking up litter himself and ensuring it was disposed of properly.
Born on June 6, 1938, in Sangrur district of Punjab, Sidhu joined the Punjab Police in 1961 and later received the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service. After retirement, he settled in Chandigarh and was disturbed by the growing litter in a city known worldwide for its planned urban design. What started as an effort to keep his neighbourhood clean gradually became his life’s mission.
His dedication has earned widespread appreciation. Industrialist Anand Mahindra praised him as an example of discipline, purpose and selfless service. Earlier this year, Sidhu was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, bringing national recognition to his decades-long work and inspiring people across the country.
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria welcomed the honour, saying it was a well-deserved recognition of a citizen whose commitment proves that serving society does not end after retirement.