Tilak retired from Indian Railways in October 2008 after 35 years of excellent service. During his tenure he was an epitome of discipline, questioned the status quo, and was instrumental in elevating the safety standards of the Signaling System.
After his retirement, in January 2010, Mr. Tilak accepted the position of Software Design Consultant at Infotech Systems. This story does not ring too different from many middle-class citizens across India who carry on with their lives despite their constraints.
What sets him apart is his unrelenting conviction that everyone has to play their part in bringing about the change we hope for. This belief — coupled with indefatigable action — propelled the inception of Shramadaan.
Watch the story of India's Pothole Man
The pothole that changed everything
On his first day to work at Infotech, Tilak was maneuvering his Fiat car on a road full of potholes near his home. As careful as he was, he could not help splashing muddy water from one of the potholes onto the neatly starched uniform of a little girl on her way to school. He immediately got off the car and apologized to the mother and daughter — but they walked away indifferently.
The condition of the roads had reached such an abysmal state that the grief of failing infrastructure had reached indifference. Tilak did not rest easy. He immediately ordered 6 truckloads of moram, paying ₹4,200 from his own pocket, and mended the entire road starting from his home.
From witness to worker
Soon after, on his way to work, Tilak witnessed an unfortunate accident in which a young man lost both his limbs. Another day, a collision damaged an auto and severely injured its occupants. Such incidents were not uncommon — but most chose to look away.
Damaged roads cause life-threatening mishaps and quieter losses too: traffic delays, fuel wastage, vehicle damage, frustration. Most channel this resentment toward the government or resign in passive indifference. Tilak couldn't.
23 January 2010
Starting on 23rd January 2010, filling potholes became Tilak's weekend ritual. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, with a crowbar, spade, and gravel/tar mix, he repaired whatever pothole he found. He spent his weekends this way for close to two years.
On 31st July 2011, the Pothole Man quit his job at Infotech and made filling potholes his new full-time work — so that the roads we all travel are safer. Instead of resentment, indifference and complaining, he chose sympathy, concern, solution and action.
The Road Doctor at work
His kit is simple: a crowbar, a spade, two broomsticks, a wire brush, gloves, red warning flags, and gunny bags of gravel mixed with tar — first gathered from roadsides, later bought from contractors with his own pension. His car, loaded with material, came to be called the Pothole Ambulance. His wife, Venkateshwari, often works beside him.
He clears the hollow, brushes it out, fills it, and tamps it down — then photographs the repaired road before moving on. Over fifteen years he has spent close to ₹40 lakh of his own retirement money and repaired more than 4,000 potholes. He has never accepted donations; today the city corporation supplies him with material instead.
When a wheelchair user in Hyderabad could not reach a bank ATM, Tilak arrived within the hour and built a ramp. Roads, to him, are simply where people are — and where help is needed.
Life in brief
- 1947Born into a farmer's family in Yernagudem, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.
- 1973–2008Serves 35 years in Indian Railways, retiring as a Senior Section Engineer (Signalling).
- Jan 2010Joins Infotech Systems as a software design consultant; the pothole splashes a schoolgirl's uniform.
- 23 Jan 2010Begins filling potholes every weekend.
- 31 Jul 2011Quits his job to repair roads full time.
- 2012Their son, Ravikiran Katnam, is called home by his mother to join the work. Shramadaan takes shape as a movement, The Hindu tells his story, and the Shramadaan Trust is co-founded.
- 2015–2016NPR and BBC profile him; he is christened the 'Doctor of Roads'.
- 2018Speaks at TEDx on 'Guardians of the Roads'.
- Today4,000+ potholes repaired, and citizens across India doing the same.
Mr. Tilak started his journey on the road less traveled.— The Hindu