CLEAN INDIA

Clean is both a verb and an adjective. If we clean something, it turns clean. If we keep cleaning it daily, it remains clean every day and night. Cleanliness, as such, must be a regular process. It demands physical activity and psychological refinement. You would clean something and keep it clean always, only when you feel and understand the importance of cleanliness there. Narendra Modi, the present prime minister of India, took this ‘clean India’ initiative a few months ago. His dream is to see every part of India in a clean and beautiful state. He is imposing cleanliness cess on taxpayers, going for foreign aid for this policy implementation and engaging a number of influential stakeholders to make it successful in the long run. Cleanliness became a matter of intense debate and an issue of devoted focus during the last few months. In this context, let us examine the need and scope of cleanliness possible at various levels.

Cleanliness

1. There are nine holes in human body. Each hole generates a substance of impurity regularly or rarely. Two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, mouth, anus and the organ meant for urination and sexual reproduction help human body purify itself as and when required. Wax is likely to form in our ears quite frequently. We should get them checked by an ENT doctor and get them cleaned in time. Our eyes look somewhat ugly when we wake up in the morning because they release some waste material from them. We wash them after brushing our teeth. Nostrils release snivel when we blow our nose. Unwanted substance comes out of it even when we sneeze. We should brush our teeth and clean our tongue also every morning and evening as per the advice of doctors these days. The hard waste material is sent out through anus every day. We wash it after that natural call. We have to wash the organ of sexual reproduction also after urination and involvement in the act of carnal joy. Females have to maintain sanitation perfectly in buying and using sanitary napkins during their times of period. Our body releases sweat from our skin depending on the weather around. We must wash our hands in a number of contexts. We have an international hand washing day dedicated to this cause. We have to wash our legs also when coming back from a place of impurities. We must take a bath daily to wash our entire body. Human body is something which needs regular cleaning. There are liquids, creams, powders, toilet soaps and a variety of other tools and substances meant for cleaning our body. It’s not enough if we clean it but keep it so wearing neat and hygienic clothes, spending in clean environment and travelling in good conditions. How many Indians have awareness about these aspects of physical hygiene in India? Of those, who have partial or complete awareness, how many are doing all that is necessary to maintain hygiene at their bodily level? How many are unable to maintain it due to financial problems? It means most of us are not keeping our bodies clean.

2. Man is a social being. Typically he has got a life partner, children, parents, relatives, well-wishers and many others with whom he moves closely in a society. He is generating a lot of rubbish as an entity of society daily. Much waste is generated in our kitchens daily, which needs to be disposed properly. Where is he throwing them? Waste water is generated from toilets every day. Where is he storing this filth? Is not it contaminating the ground water available there? We wash our clothes and towels as regularly as possible.  How frequently are we washing our blankets, bed sheets, pillow covers, pillows, cots and mosquito nets? Are we throwing or burning our pillows and blankets after some months or are we using them for years together? How clean are our toilets, bathrooms and wash areas? Are we keeping our floor and roof clean dusting and cleaning them as frequently as required? What is the status of sewage systems in our houses, streets, towns and cities? What is the status of our ponds, rivers and lakes? What is the state of our lands and farm related canals? Are we not throwing rubbish wherever and whenever we like. Are we not cutting trees and pulling plants for every trivial reason? How did we pollute our seas and oceans due to our unwanted interference? Are we, the human beings, not the primary cause for exploitation of resources and generation of pollution everywhere? Plastic has already ruined our earth planet. We are solely responsible for many kinds of contamination and pollution happening around us. Where are the barbers throwing our trimmed hair? Where are we keeping our old and useless vehicles? Where are the bike and car mechanics throwing those useless spares and disposing that dirty water used for washing? Where are the butchers throwing the bowels, blood, skin and feathers of various birds and animals? Where are our children, adults and old people defecating and urinating beyond toilets at homes or public places? Where are our females throwing used sanitary napkins? Where are they throwing used bubble gums and condoms? Where are they sending the contaminated farm water with pesticides and insecticides? How much water, food, facilities and air are we polluting in our abodes of public worship? How many foods and drinks are we misusing and disposing after a variety of parties, functions, celebrations and events we hold at home, office, temple or otherwise? Where are we blowing, coughing and sneezing while in public places? Where are we dumping our old and useless electronic goods like television, computer, washing machine and grinder? Man, who is an active participant in the civilized and uncivilized societies across the world, is causing pollution and contamination unbelievably and unbearably?  Who is questioning him? Who is educating him? Who is punishing him if he commits mistakes even after a number of awareness camps there?

3.  Industrial revolution augmented the production and usage of machines for fast and massive production of a variety of tools and goods needed by man for his comfortable and luxurious living. There are millions of small scale and large scale industries across the world. They emanate a variety of pollutants into the land, water and air surrounding them as part of their industrial processes and procedures. The regulatory bodies like pollution control board and environmental protection agencies don’t function honestly and reliably, representing the local and national governments because they take huge bribes from the industrial units in various places and neglect the issues of pollution and environmental degradation. Governments don’t punish regulatory bodies because they only create and support such systems of governance and culture in every region. Naxalites cannot punish corrupt and unethical politicians and bureaucrats because they are not as strong as the governments and their agencies in many states. Industrial pollution and contamination of resources is pervasive in many regions of India. The life forms living in those areas, including man, are the primary and immediate victims of this scenario. Governments have no control on public or private business units these days in India because they are composed of corrupt and ineffective human resources of contemporary societies. So, industrialists are causing a lot of harm to our earth planet directly. Can our governments reform them?

4. Public and private transport systems like bikes, cars, buses, trains, ships, aeroplanes, helicopters, rockets and satellites are also the major cause of pollution in many countries. The number of these vehicles increases in near future in proportion to the growth of population and needs of transport.   

5. Natural calamities like floods and earthquakes also pollute the environment. Man-made disasters add fuel to this scenario of extensive pollution and contamination of natural resources in all regions.  

6. Penguins are soiling the poles of the earth. Beasts and birds are polluting our forests. Tamed animals like cows and buffaloes are also polluting the environment chewing the cud. Do we kill them brutally?

7. Thousands of items thrown by ambitious man have been revolving around the earth planet in the space. Man’s growth into the space has thus led to generation of pollutants in the orbit of the earth also.

8. Trash in and around hospitals; rubbish piling up around the places of fairs and celebrations.

We know that pollution and contamination are happening tremendously across the world now. Let us examine if God made any arrangements on our earth for cleanliness in a natural and automated manner.

1. What happens to corpses and carcasses if they are left in the open for a few days? Bacteria decompose them. They are cleaning regularly in many parts of the world. We need millions of bacteria day and night.

2. What are pigs doing in our surroundings in many cities, towns and villages? They consume those thrown away things by us which we consider untouchable and unbearable. They are cleaning our places.

3. Who is washing dusty plants and trees and dirty buildings and roads in our knowledge? Rain is doing it. They remove dust and dirt from many phenomena and things we see around regularly.

4. We observe that many hard things that enter seas somehow are pushed towards the beaches within a short period of time. It means seas don’t like pollutants entering them. They clean themselves quite often.

5. There are seeds which turn partly muddy water into pure water if they are left in muddy water for some time. There might be many such wonders in nature. We don’t know much about these herbs.

6. Sunshine also bakes many wet things on earth planet. Bacteria and viruses multiply and spread fast in wet and dirty environment rather than dry and hot atmosphere. Sun kills these parasites through his rays.

7. The cells in every part of our body get replaced within hours or days. Otherwise we cannot survive eating harmful foods and drinking poisonous beverages. God installed superb cleaning system in all of us.

8. Ribs are protecting important organs in our body; eyelids are protecting eyes; skin is protecting our body keeping our organs intact for long; skull is saving our brain. There are many to count.

9. Ozone layer is there in the space to block the entry of ultra violet rays of the sun onto the earth. It’s like an umbrella to the earth. Scientists and astronauts can understand it better than ordinary people.

10. Air draws the humidity from millions of wet things in this world. Many live depending on this drying process alone done by air abundantly. Fresh air purifies the polluted air in and outside our abodes.

It shows that God made proper arrangements in this planet for self-purification of many organisms and objects. Mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches are created by God to hint us about the need of cleanliness in our homes and other buildings. We often fail to understand the bounty of nature and God in cleaning us and our environment. At times we block that natural process of cleaning through our acts of innocence, selfishness, eccentricity and stupidity. God gave us a beautiful stage to play our roles comfortably and happily. He installed an intelligent and powerful brain in us which often guides us on what to do or not to do. Many have been telling us about the importance of cleanliness in our family, society or state, for ages. We are always understanding the theory but not putting it into practice.

Indians don’t take anything seriously. They focus on such things, which don’t delight or benefit them directly or indirectly. They play cricket. They discuss nonsense. They encourage fraudsters. They discourage idealists and philanthropists. They don’t improve their knowledge or skills. They don’t plan many things in their life or profession. This indiscipline makes them victims of various burning issues around them. Cleanliness is just one of these problems. They live with problems instead of solving them forever. They expect others to do something, which contributes to their comfort or happiness now or later. Majority Indians don’t have progressive thinking. They practise what others advised mostly because they have no individuality of their own. They prefer easy money to hard-earned money in life or career.

There are some blocks and restrictions which keep us beyond cleanliness despite our passion for it.

1. Bacteria develop in the socks if we wear a pair of shoes for more than two hours. Most of the employees or others wear a variety of shoes for about eight hours on all working days or otherwise.

2. Bacteria develop on our body if we wear clothes for more than two hours. More so in the corners of thighs and armpits due to the friction there caused by physical movements.

3. We should shave pubic hair and the one in our armpits once for two weeks at least. Most of Indians wish to keep their visible parts only beautiful and attractive. They neglect these hidden parts of body.

4. We should change our pillows, pillow covers and blankets once a week. We should burn them after using them for three or four months. How many of us can do it? We are sleeping with bacteria daily.

5. We are living in very congested houses and apartments due to problems of space. We cannot get pure air, water, foods or beverages. All are contaminated. Can we go to forests? Can we make everything well?

6. We should clean household items like television, refrigerator, AC machine, gas stove, wardrobe, cots, dishes, clothes, floors, ceilings, exteriors, doors and windows very frequently. Are we doing it?

7. When we are living by busy roads and railway tracks, a lot of dust and sound enters our abodes of residence. Can we leave our houses in polluted areas and move to greener pastures for healthy living?

8. Babies below the age of three soil our house very frequently through natural calls. Are we maintaining absolute cleanliness in the surroundings about them, their linen, diapers, foods, drinks and sleeping areas?

9. Many passengers make the space in buses and trains dirty due to their ignorance or stupidity. Can we stop these journeys being disgusted with these folks? Can we change them to the better in a century?

10. Many have pets at their abodes. It could be dogs, cats, snakes or others. Are we cleaning and vaccinating them in a perfect order? Don’t they pollute our house with their fur and other dust particles?

11. In rainy season, all streets get wet. Muddy and slippery soil can be seen in many places. Quite detestable material pile up in pools everywhere. Who can make it tidy? Is anybody bothered about it?

12. Public defecation is a common sight in many parts of India. They don’t build toilets. Even if they are there, they don’t use them. Even if they use them, they make and keep them dirty and slippery mostly.

13. For majority of Indians, public property means something which you can deface and damage as much as you wish. Schools, colleges, government offices and resorts are made and kept dirty by many daily.

14. Many things pile up in our house or office in course of time. They might be documents, gadgets, books, clothes and what not. Are we regularly throwing unwanted things from our abodes?

15. Many craftsmen, who are working in unorganized sector, regularly inhale harmful powders, cement, dust of wood, smoke and so on. They don’t wear PPEs. They spoil their health without cleanliness there.

16. Public transport systems like buses, trains, aeroplanes and ships cause huge pollution daily. Can governments ban these services forever to save environment? Do people accept such decisions by others?

As far as cleanliness is concerned, there are quite surprising phenomena and occurrences around us.

1. Many use their handkerchiefs to dry up their palms after washing them with clean water. We use water to make them clean. Using a highly used handkerchief means making them dirty again.

2. Beds and cots are meant for resting lying flat or sleeping at night. We use them for sitting, eating, playing and many other things. This is how we are making them dirty, using them for secondary purpose.

3. When we are suffering from a cold, we should blow our nose going out. How many actually do it? Many blow into their handkerchief when no possibility to go out frequently. It’s quite unhealthy habit.

4. Bath means cleaning our entire body. Water, mud, steam or creams are mediums used in this process. We should wash our head also while bathing. We should bath twice a day at least. Are we doing it?

5. Cleanliness is not something, which we can understand and practice doing it at surface level. A floor might look clean but there are millions of bacteria and viruses on it. Are we disinfecting it hour to hour?

6. Most of Indians do not know how to wash fruits, vegetables and a variety of other food items. It means they are consuming many foods without cleaning them in the right manner. They never think about it.

7. If we close all the doors and windows while sleeping, for the sake of absolute silence and avoidance of air from outside, the air inside gets polluted due to our breathing. If we open them, polluted air enters.

8. Ninety percent of the Indians do not keep their toilets and bathrooms as clean as expected by doctors. They are the sources of accidents and diseases. How many decades do we want to change all Indians?

9. There are certain parts in our houses where we keep quite unwanted or rarely used items of utility. We don’t throw them because we may need them one day. Dust and dirt develop in these places in our homes.

10. Partners should clean their organs of sexual reproduction after intercourse. They are sensitive organs. How many Indians know about it? How many Indians are practicing it? Can we go to their bedrooms?

11. Majority Indians don’t know what purity or impurity means regarding various items of consumption. Even if they know, there are no labs around to test them immediately. We are accepting impurities daily.

12. Seats and berths in public transport systems are storehouses of millions of microorganisms. Are they cleaning each seat and berth as per the international standards? Are they removing them in time? 

13. Are we cleaning our ornaments, books, pens, belts, watches, clocks, cellphones, computers, laptops, footwear, spectacles, vehicles, toothbrushes, sinks, wells and mosquito nets in the perfect order at all?

14. Most of the snacks we buy and eat outside are covered with dust and dirt, which we cannot notice at surface level. Can we ban hawkers and consumption of street foods to save the health of Indians?

15. Majority Indians spit wherever they like. Ugliness and spread of bacteria are the main disadvantages of it. Can we keep spittoons in all those places across the nation where anybody is likely to spit?

16. Ninety percent of the doctors in India don’t know what absolute cleanliness is nor practise it in their abodes of medicines and treatment. No regulatory authority questions, checks or punishes them.

I account a few things of cleanliness I practice or observe in persons or places familiar to me to let you know how cleanliness should be inculcated into personal or professional lives with individual effort.

1. I did not understand and maintain cleanliness much at personal level until I was 25 or so. I did all that a normal human does to keep oneself somewhat clean but there was no special attention to this practice. It means age, self-awareness and psychological growth influenced me much in this regard. 

2. I started taking wholesome bath, including head, about 10 years ago when I understood that head also gets sweaty along with the remaining body and so it is necessary to wash my head also daily.

3. I started washing my hands frequently only when I realized that it is necessary to keep myself healthy.

4. I have been washing my clothes for about 30 years because I understood that nobody washes my clothes as neatly as I do. When we have no time to do it well, why do others do it for us specially? It does not mean everybody should wash his or her clothes. We should ascertain absolute cleanliness of our clothes. What we can do about it depends on our circumstances, availability of time and focus on it.

5. I have been washing every part of my body, for the last 10 years or so, thoroughly, during a bath because I realized that every part gets dirty daily. Bathing fast is not a good habit. Bathing to wash ourselves completely is important. Nobody checks how I am bathing. I should feel it strongly and do it.

6. I wash used dishes in my abode rarely but whenever I do it, I do it perfectly. I should apply the cake or paste of a detergent as much as needed and I should clean it completely with adequate amount of water. I am doing so only because my understanding about cleanliness is high and I want to practise it.

7. I mostly wash my soles also before wearing a pair of shoes. Once we put them in those shoes, we don’t offer them the required freedom for about eight hours. So, I thought, I must wash my soles for hygiene. When cleanliness is my objective, I should keep every possible organ and item clean always.

8. I trim my nails whenever they grow considerably long. I don’t like growing nails because it is a bad habit. I ensure that the nails of my children are also trimmed in time if they bring that point to my notice. I don’t follow fashions and styles but standards. These standards are applicable to all.

9. I stopped going to temples about 10 years ago because I understood that many psychologically and morally unclean devotees are visiting temples nowadays. A true devotee need not go to a temple at all.

10. I apply a dry towel on every part of my body soon after a bath to absorb the wetness on it. Skin disorders develop if we don’t make our body dry soon after a bath and other times.

11. My elder brother finishes his bath within three or four minutes. He does not take a bath as a process meant for making and keeping his body clean for long. He is doing so because it is his attitude.

12. My parents do not keep our toilet clean always. Mosquitoes move about there. They don’t clean it with acids. They don’t have interest in that act. They don’t know how to keep them clean always.

13. Many of my relatives don’t take the idea and practice of cleanliness as seriously as they do with their gold, money and assets. For them, cleanliness is a formality. They may or may not maintain it.

14. I did not observe cleanliness in its perfect order in any office where I worked till now. It had been a formality for them. I never questioned them about it because they may send me out if I do much that way. Earning more money and promoting their businesses extensively was their goal but not cleanliness.

All this means that if I am doing anything concrete now as far as cleanliness is concerned, it is because of my awareness, interest and focus on it, not because of the external forces. I could not change my parents, friends, relatives or others towards cleanliness as they never asked me about it. Psychological growth, from this perspective, seems to be the deciding factor in this regard. Even God cannot change one if there is no self-reformation. Cleanliness is not an event but process. Many don’t follow it devotedly forever. Many talk about and practise cleanliness to impress others but not their inner self.

Insights   

1. Cleanliness is not at all a matter of concern for 95% of people in India. They are more focused on the means and ways of earning more money than others, criticizing everybody just like that, beauty, styles, trends, gossip, sports and games, entertainment, bad habits and so on. This is why most of the people are not following the ways of cleanliness despite multiple awareness programs around them by others.

2. Even if one has genuine interest in cleanliness; one can follow it at one’s level only. I may keep my body, office and house clean always but what about my wife, children, relatives and neighbors. They practise cleanliness as a way of life only when they are dedicated for that cause. They become so when the situation demands. We cannot predict when and how circumstances influence one to become good.

3. Cleanliness cannot be achieved only if a few are educated and devoted to it. Contemporary trends, circumstances and culture enable one to follow or neglect this idea or practice. We find some villages only as ideal ones because they are following cleanliness perfectly in their places. It is achieved through collective planning and implementation. Social change is possible only if all participate in it honestly.

4. Many are migrating to countries like the USA, Australia, Singapore and Canada because cleanliness is maintained at high standards in these developed countries. They established such systems of governance and implementation years ago. People are following those standards because those systems demand it. So, stringent policies and procedures can change people over time. Governments should be ideal.

5. There are stages in the degree of cleanliness. I may eat a boiled egg if it is looking good after the shell is removed. My friend may want to see the shell on it. His friend may desire to know which hen delivered it. His relative may want to know what kind of feed that hen consumed. A scientist may wish to test the genes of that bird. His subordinate wants to know about the environment around that bird.

6. Patriotism is very important in the citizens of a country. The development or decline of a nation largely depends on this aspect of citizens in a nation. Those with patriotism think about everything from a broader perspective. They do and make others do such things only which strengthen and beautify their nation in the short or long run. In Indians, patriotism is very low now. Many are selfish and superficial. 

7. Any government should not expect absolute cleanliness from its citizens without making proper arrangements for it. They should not expect public places and national highways to be clean without building thousands of public toilets in all places where cleanliness is desired. Natural calls cannot be controlled. We need many facilities to keep India clean. Governments should provide them adequately.

8. Poverty, ignorance and negligence are major reasons for lakh of cleanliness in many regions. When one has no food to eat, one accepts dirty food. When one does not know what cleanliness is, one cannot follow those standards. When one is not interested in cleanliness at all, nobody can change him. Cleanliness must be the culture and tradition of people just like festivals, ceremonies, fairs and rituals.

9. Man does not change much in an environment of absolute freedom and lack of punishments for crimes and sins. Such atmosphere is pervasive in India now. Nobody punishes one if one spits, urinates or defecates in a public place in India now. Indians are good at misusing freedom. When they have much freedom, they misuse it in multiple ways. Being unclean is their habit. Can we punish all of them?

10. Lack of resources also leads to uncleanliness. I am living in a desert. I am suffering from water scarcity. I have to walk miles to bring drinking water. I like to bath twice a day. I want to drink much water to keep myself healthy. When adequate water supply is not there, I cannot keep myself clean. I bath once a week. I wash my clothes occasionally. I drink available impure water for my survival.

11. Political parties, celebrities, interest groups and voluntary organizations should be ideal and realistic in practicing and promoting cleanliness. We cannot see such environment in India. Government buses, trains, markets, hospitals, schools and offices look quite dirty and dusty in India. Many people use public facilities quite often. Change must start from public services. Others follow it slowly over time.

12. Nature also contributes to uncleanliness. Natural calamities like floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions largely make our environment dirty and ugly. We need a lot of time and resources to make them clean and beautiful again. It is unproductive expenditure. Many poor countries cannot spend much money for cleanliness alone against many other pressing issues in their nation. Who can help them?

13. Cleanliness is not an event but process. A government, society or individual has to sincerely follow the standards and values of cleanliness voluntarily. It is not enough if I keep my house clean only when relatives come or on festive days. I must keep it so for 365 days, even if nobody is living in it. I follow cleanliness perfectly when I feel its need deeply. I should do it always to satisfy myself, not others.

14. We should not engage humans in major operations or minor works related to cleanliness. It is inhuman to treat a section of our society as inferior ones to us and suitable ones to do such things. We must use technology mostly for cleanliness ultimately. Machines don’t have feelings and emotions but artificial intelligence. We must make and keep many cleanliness tools available to people at low prices.

15. We should inculcate the knowledge and practice of cleanliness in our children from early childhood. Children mostly imitate their parents, siblings, relatives, well-wishers and friends. If we practice hygiene in everything we do at home, they certainly observe and follow it in their lives for long. Children, old people and patients must follow hygiene perfectly because they are more prone to negative results.

16. Development and happiness mostly entail uncleanliness. More money and more industrialization means more comforts and luxuries. Richness leads to consumerism. When we use a variety of goods and services, uncleanliness develops. To be happy, we do many illogical and mad things across places. Public parks and parties are the best examples for this. Uncleanliness is a result of massive celebrations.

17. God uses uncleanliness as a means to punish sinners. If I am a sinner, I should experience and live the life of a victim. Mosquitoes, ants, bacteria and viruses must be abundant around me. Thus I catch diseases and infections. Then I get hospitalized and witness dirt and pain everywhere there. I should smell decomposed items and live in pathetic conditions. Uncleanliness allows me to clear my bad Karma.

18. Absolute cleanliness is not possible in any part of the material world. Can we sacrifice our bodies because there is one or another impurity in our body at any given point of time in our lifetime? Can we kill plants and trees because they are dropping nuts, fruits and leaves every day? Can we vacate our villages, towns and cities because there is uncleanliness somewhere despite our best efforts everywhere?

19. A prime minister, a policy, an agency, a machine or a trend cannot establish and sustain cleanliness forever. Their statements and campaigns in public places are good for watching and appreciating. At ground level, we cannot achieve cleanliness to our desired levels in any age because all people don’t think alike, all places are not alike and all circumstances do not facilitate it. It is just a good effort always!