Most people visit Jodhpur for its forts, palaces and postcard-perfect streets. Caron Rawnsley saw something else.While exploring the city more than a decade ago, the 80-year-old Irishman found himself drawn to its centuries-old stepwells. They were beautiful, but many had been left to decay. Some were filled with garbage. Others had simply been forgotten.He couldn’t ignore what he saw.So instead of moving on, Rawnsley picked up cleaning tools and got to work. One stepwell at a time, he began clearing years of waste, hoping these historic structures would once again get the care they deserved.Today, locals know him as “Pagal Saab” – a nickname that has come to represent his unwavering dedication. And now, his work has earned a public salute from industrialist Anand Mahindra.Mahindra recently shared a video about Rawnsley’s journey on X and praised the Irishman for spending years restoring Jodhpur’s bawris and jhalaras, the traditional stepwells that once helped communities store water long before modern pipelines existed.“They nicknamed 80-year-old Irishman Caron Rawnsley ‘Pagal Saab’ for his obsession with cleaning Jodhpur’s Bawris & Jhalaras,” Mahindra wrote. “Fortunately, today, you don’t need to be either ‘pagal’ or ‘phirang’ to devote yourself to reviving India’s stepwells.”He added that protecting India’s heritage isn’t limited to experts or conservationists. Anyone willing to care enough can make a difference.Rawnsley’s journey began in 2014, when he first visited Jodhpur. Speaking to The Better India, he recalled being stunned by the condition of the city’s historic water structures.“When I came to Jodhpur… I saw these beautiful stepwells but was shocked to see these ancient and unique water harvesting systems going derelict. So, I decided to devote my time to cleaning these places and trying to bring them back in good shape,” he said.Since then, he has helped clean several stepwells, including Rambauri and Gulab Sagar. Much of the work has been done by hand, driven purely by his love for the city’s heritage.Stepwells were once at the heart of everyday life in Rajasthan. They stored water in dry regions, gave travellers a place to rest and often became gathering spots for local communities. But as modern water systems took over, many slowly slipped into neglect.Rawnsley’s work has helped remind people that these structures are more than old monuments. They tell the story of India’s engineering, history and relationship with water.Mahindra ended his post with a heartfelt message: “I want to salute Pagal Saab Caron, for his love of Jodhpur and his selflessness and passion for our heritage. May his work never cease.”The story struck a chord online.“True love for a place is shown through action, not nationality,” one user wrote.Another commented, “Funny how he was called ‘Pagal’ while doing the most sensible thing.”Others said his story was a reminder that caring for a place has little to do with where you’re born. Sometimes, all it takes is one person who refuses to walk away.Thumb image: Better India
