Clean and Capable India

Be the Change You Want To See

                                                                  - Mahatma Gandhi

     We were taught to brush our teeth and take bath regularly, wash our hands before and after food, keep our room neat and tidy etc. Many of us did develop them on our own while some of us were taught from our home, schools and other social institutions. We, though, have failed to replicate these lessons however knowing the sensitive fact that cleanliness is a yardstick of personality.

     It is, of course, true that the much-hailed aphorism ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ turns its back in Bharat. Every Bharathiya might call this unaccepted and inappropriate behaviour a matter of indecency and arrogance. On the contrary every foreigner or Atithi coming to India with prejudiced eyes and ears would definitely say ‘it’s best to hear’. There lies the stark reality of the progress and development of post-independence India. Nothing we have seen till now attempts to render a final solution for the issue of Swachhata.

    Swachhata in an individual is not an inherent trait but cultivated over years of disciplined life. It certainly begins from a well-cultured and civilized family circle. The famous cliché ‘charity begins at home’ not only epitomizes the aforementioned environment but also emphasizes the part and parcel of give and take policy in relationships. There is an umbilical cord relationship between Bhumi Devi and Matr Rajya. The fundamental responsibilities of a Putr to his Mata are akin to obligation of a Praja to his Matr Rajya. In fact, the whole concept of clean and capable India functions at two different realms: tangible and intangible. To be precise, a clean nation at a tangible level creates herd of clean, uncorrupted and flawless citizens and in that way capable India at an intangible level.

   To unravel how vast and demanding cleanliness is to Indian-ness the clock ought to be winded to Ancient India. Daksha Smriti and the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali confer a clear and detailed understanding of Shaucha (cleanliness and purity). Hindu scriptures strictly state the necessity of hygiene at both mortal and immortal level. The not-so-easily sought fruits of contentment and happiness can be achieved only through Shudh Manas, Vachya and Karma. According to Manusmriti, “Ahimsa Satyam Asteyam Shoucham Indriyanigraha Etam Samasikam Dharmam” (nonviolence, truthfulness, cleanliness and control of five senses are duties of everyone). The views of scriptures such as not consuming uncovered food, treating animals and bodily discharges as filthy are all fact antithetical in contemporary world. Yet, the pure intention behind each and every custom and ritual are appreciable. The much-celebrated conception of cleanliness -hygiene and purity- in scriptures reveals the significance of it since time immemorial.

   Pondering upon the basic tenets of cleanliness in the modern world, Mahatma Gandhiji’s far-fetched dream of proper sanitation measures can be brought into account. Mahatma Gandhi, a Vishvamanava (Universal Man) drawing inspiration from western ideals of cleanliness embraced it as a part of his disciplined life. He envisaged not merely a Swacch Bharat but an India without discrimination in the name of Varnas. The Maryada Purushothama -Gandhiji- took up the role of a scavenger and went ahead discarding the stifling constraints imposed by upper class.  Neither he found himself to be superior in the hierarchy of social strata nor felt that he is a gigantic intellect. Which is why Gandhiji came forward to clean the latrines of Servants of Indian Society’s Quarters at Poona and also deplorable railway stations of India. Mahatma’s message “If you become your own scavengers, you will make your surroundings clean. It needs no less courage to become an expert scavenger than to win a Victoria Cross" has to be revered forever. He does go to the extent to be called himself a Harijan and took pride in the profession of Bhangi as well. Swami Vivekananda says, “He whose heart bleeds for the poor is a Mahatma”.  This clearly shows why Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had been honoured with the title Mahatma by Rabindranath Tagore. The resounding conclusion of Gandhiji’s karma (that turned out to be his dharma) is simply that men and women irrespective of their caste and class are born with equal calibre and responsibility to clean their premises.

   The much-debated new avatar of cleanliness in India -Swacch Bharat Abhiyan- is essentially a revisioning of the legacy left behind by our Rashtrapitha. On a larger scale it mainly focuses on proper sanitation amenities, solid waste management and adequate drinking facilities. The whole idea behind the cleanliness drive should be to bring about change within oneself and others. Our honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi ‘challenged’ nine people to take part in Swacch Bharat campaign and encouraged them to draw another nine to the same and thereby the entire Indians. The goal is really laudable.  It is a noble gesture, evidently and a feather in our government’s cap. Many a number following the role model act of celebrities took broom in their hands (apparently first time) and came forward to clean the premises of hospitals, hotels, workplaces and yes, slums. To our chagrin, the number of civic actually putting this mission into practice at least on a monthly basis is pretty less. It is pointless to take into account the efforts of digital and hash tag activists. Their activism is often confined to a carefree environment and also has traces of myopic views.

   One might say the current avatar of cleanliness in India is unworthy. Imposing fine for disposing garbage in public space, cancelling license of restaurants for unhealthy environment, placing conspicuous signboards such as DONOT LITTER and LITTERING IS A PUNISHABLE OFFENCE, construction of public lavatories are all not pleasing and practical methods to welcome the breeze of change. The simplest of the simplest methods to be adopted by an Indian citizen is to keep one’s own abode neat and tidy and take one small step forward for keeping the road in the front of the house clean.  If you seriously want to drive change, join hands with a couple of active NGOs. Or you may choose to be odd enough, by imbibing Gaurang Damani’s (who became a change-maker by carrying out a cleanliness drive in Kings Circle railway station, Mumbai) way instead.

   As India is on the cusp of progress, cleanliness is a compulsory topic to be discussed. No further we should allow any random foreigner such as British MP, Lucy Ivimy, to call us “congenital litterbugs”. To elevate our motherland’s image to other nations shouldn’t we create a hygienic and green ecosystem? Also, a country’s biggest asset is not the piles of money safely kept in government exchequer. It is undoubtedly the homeland’s healthy people. Hence our country should not be compromising health of the human resources of India merely due to the cleanliness issue.

  Merging the limited scope of cleanliness with India’s desire to be the most developed nation is no easy task. More crucially for the development of our nation, our tourism industry has to be efficiently restructured. It amounts to 6% of our GDP. No ‘Incredible India’ campaign would present the kaleidoscopic view of India than Indians themselves do. Presenting ourselves the best to other nations and the whole world is the only greatest gift Indians can give to Matr Rajya. One can presume that this heart warming little change would pave way for many revolutionary big changes. Perhaps this is one of the changes the Father of the Nation wanted to see.