For the past decade, Algarathnam Natarajan has been waking up at 5 a.m. every summer to drive his van through Delhi’s poor neighborhoods, refilling the earthen water pots he has installed there. Known as the 'Matka Man,' the 77-year-old former London shopkeeper now maintains 98 matkas across his neighborhood and beyond, providing free, cool water to rickshaw pullers, laborers, and other impoverished residents.
A Decade of Dedication
Natarajan started with just four clay pots near his house after realizing the dire need for potable water among Delhi’s poor. With summer temperatures routinely exceeding 40 degrees Celsius from May to early July, many residents cannot afford even basic water. An acquaintance suggested using matkas—traditional earthen pots that cool water through evaporation—and Natarajan expanded his effort. Today, he makes two rounds each morning, carrying 2,000 liters per trip, totaling 4,000 liters daily. The water is self-funded from his pension and investments, with occasional donations.
The Science Behind the Matka
Matkas have been used on the Indian subcontinent for millennia. When filled, water seeps into the pot’s pores and evaporates, extracting heat from the air inside and reducing the water temperature by about 8 degrees Celsius. This provides significant relief during heatwaves and keeps the water clean. 'It’s mostly to serve poor people, rickshaw pullers, laborers,' Natarajan told Arab News. 'Can you imagine these poor people have to pay for buckets of water and they can’t afford it? A lot of children suffer from dehydration.'
From Cancer Survivor to Community Servant
Natarajan, originally from Bangalore, ran souvenir shops in London before battling cancer successfully. He left the business in 2010 and returned to India, settling in Delhi to focus on community work. He has worked with NGOs, an orphanage, a terminal cancer center, and helped cremate unclaimed bodies of the poor. His water initiative is part of a broader mission to serve basic needs. 'I think every man is entitled to have water—every man, poor or rich—and if I can serve them in a small way, that’s good,' he said. 'The work I do is not charity. The work I do is sharing.'
Impact and Inspiration
Natarajan’s efforts have made a tangible difference. Prabhakar Jha, a courier who regularly fetches water from the matkas on his way to work, said: 'Water is life. I really appreciate the man who has put matkas here. He has done a great thing. Hundreds of people drink water from here, and all of them will bless him.' While Natarajan is fully supported by his wife, he hopes more neighbors in his posh locality will be inspired to contribute—even by placing a tap outside their homes for those in need.
