By noon, the Barmer–Batadu road in Rajasthan begins to shimmer under the desert sun.

Temperatures here often soar above 45°C during summer. Buses carrying workers, families and traders cut through the heat. Dust-covered trucks rumble past, while motorcyclists stop wherever they can find a patch of shade.

Amid this harsh landscape stands 77-year-old Thana Ram Kadwasara.

Beside him are bottles of cold drinking water.

For the past 21 years, he has made it his mission to ensure that no traveller on this stretch of road goes thirsty. In a place where relief from the heat can be hard to find, his simple act of kindness has become a lifeline for countless people.

A daily act of service

A resident of Hudo Ki Dhani village in Barmer district, Thana Ram has turned........

© The Better India