Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan

No this post is not about promoting the government policies or berating a man’s heroism.

Let me make it clear before beginning – our Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not always the Prime Minister and he will not always be the Prime Minister. India was India before Narendra Modi was born and it will continue to be India even when he is not around.

Yes, some people do make a great impact. I also agree that Narendra Modi is one of those few.

However, he cant do anything alone. I would be lying if I said that we are too great. No we are not. There are hundreds of things that need improvements and probably more than need to be involved. And there are alot of great people who have had a great impact. Yet there are these lists of things.

I am not saying that we are hopeless. We have alot of wonderful things. We have done alot so far. But its we all together who have done it. Each and every individual has done. Every little action in the right direction counts. Even the tiniest of the efforts from the people who will be invisible forever counts.

Same goes for swacchta – cleanliness.

I hate when someone compares my country to Europe. Unfortunately I am stuck with people who keep doing so. They keep saying how Europe is clean and so beautiful; How everyone follows rules there. They are educated doctors – parents to two earning individuals. And they love to throw stuff outside the window of a running car.

So we are on this trip to Gangtok-Darjeeling and trust me it is beautiful. I don’t have words to even describe how wonderful this place is. Its simple and serene. Its picteresque and lavish. Its definitely a place to visit. But this irritating couple I am stuck with – they keep throwing stuff out of the window of the moving car. They keep saying how Europe has all this and better. They ask shopkeeper if he wont give the bill then he could exempt the GST charges. They keep asking is it necessary to follow the rules. They keep suggesting to the taxi driver to break rules.

I mean common !! These people don’t do all this in Europe. What is wrong with people within the Indian boundary?

This or any other Prime Minister is not going to come and clean your street for you. This is basic hygiene. I see that there are workers who clean the roads and common areas and they are all doing their work. The municipal truck comes to collect garbage from all neighbourhoods. There are dustbins installed in all public places and colonies. I however do apologise if the Prime Minister is not coming, taking your trash from your hand and putting it into the bin.

I am not here to crib about people I am stuck with or the other things that are not working. I just want to draw attention to this fact – the few of us who have been chosen by God as intelligent beings, if we neglect our duties, how do we claim to our rights?

It is very simple to sit in the comforts of your home and malign someone else. For all it matters, the other person had it coming. Yet it doesn’t make us free from our duties.

I am fine for people not coming out and cleaning roads. Don’t do extra. I am just asking you to not undo something done by others. If you have a clean spot, just use the bin and don’t litter. Even if we remember and follow this, I am sure things will grow cleaner!!