Professor Mishra had devoted his life to cleaning the Ganga. Having started his career as a professor of hydraulics, he then became the mahant of the Sankat Mochan temple at Varanasi. Later, he established and guided the Sankat Mochan Foundation, which strives to improve the quality of the water in the Ganga by eliminating all point-source pollution. This work earned him several accolades, including Time magazine's 'Hero of the planet' declaration in 1999, though Prof. Mishra believed that time was running out for the Ganga.
In a recent TEDx talk, Prof. Mishra emphasised that the Swach Ganga campaign was 'hopeful' about the success of the campaign. His demise will prove a setback, naturally. But it is more important than even before, to ensure that his efforts do not go waste.
Related Links
Noted environmentalist Veer Bhadra Mishra passes away, Times of India, 13 March, Binay Singh