From Novak Djokovic's homeland to Gurgaon's streets: One man is on a garbage cleanup mission

Indian Express

a day ago

Armed with a rake, gloves, trash bags, and wearing gumboots, this 32-year-old man neatly clears and collects trash that he finds on the streets of Gurgaon's Sector 55.
But he's not a local on a civic mission — he's Lazar Jankovic, a Serbian national.
'India is too beautiful to be this dirty,' he tells The Indian Express. 'Main bas chahta hu ki log apne ghar aur dukaan ke saamne ke 2 metre saaf rakhe (I just want people to keep two metres in front of their homes and/or shops clean).'
Lazar has embarked on a campaign he calls 'a journey to clean India'. Beginning with Sector 55 five days ago, he started a week-long drive on August 8 called 'Ek Din Ek Gully (One Day, One Street)'', which will last till Independence Day.
On day 2 of the drive, several people joined him. On Day 4, he filmed a video, starting with two lines from a popular Punjabi track, 'Ki banu duniya da, sache badshah Waheguru jaane (What will happen to the world, only the Almighty knows).'
Asked what prompted the campaign, he says, 'It was when I saw a man in a suit just jump past garbage outside his house and enter his SUV… it would have taken just two minutes to pick it up.'
''As long as it's outside my house, it's not my problem' — this is the attitude of most people in India… Stop pointing fingers and take action, and you will see the difference,' he asserts.
Lazar arrived in India in 2018 for modeling assignments and to practice yoga. After spending a few years in Bengaluru, he moved to Gurgaon last year. Since August 2024, he's been tackling the Millennium City's trash, albeit on a small scale. He also takes up modelling gigs across NCR.
In one of his videos, he asks influencers in India to make content on cleaning the country ahead of Independence Day, ending his request with a 'Jai Hind'. 'Influencers here tend not to post about cleanliness,' he explains.
Meanwhile, residents have largely welcomed Lazar's cleanup efforts, sharing his work on society WhatsApp groups. But some raise concerns about the long-term impact.
'Within 24 hours, the trash bags (that Lazar keeps by the side of the road in areas that don't have dustbins) are torn open by stray dogs and cows, and the garbage piles up again,' says Vinita Sinha, RWA president of Sushant Lok A and A1 blocks.
Sinha says her observations come from daily morning walks through the streets he's cleaned. 'He should have a more organised set-up, rather than just making symbolic videos.'
But Lazar insists he's not in it for the views. 'Even if I cleaned the streets every day for the rest of my life, they still wouldn't be garbage-free,' he says.
'I love India — I want to relax on Goa's beaches or meditate in the Himalayas without seeing trash and bottles scattered around.'
He's quick to clarify that he's not looking for volunteers — but for people to stop littering. 'India loves seeing people as heroes or villains. I am just a Serbian guy doing my bit; the real change has to come from you all.'
He plans on getting married and staying here at least six months a year, calling it his 'home'.
On Thursday, he was in Delhi for an awareness drive — and wasn't spared by the downpour. 'My cab was stuck on the road for hours, and when I finally switched to a bike, I kept getting splashed by passing buses,' he says.
Finally, he has a message for NRIs who offer to fund his cleaning drives: 'Ghar aa ja pardesi (Come home, immigrant).'