Opinion | India’s Sanitation Problem Needs a Cultural and Spiritual Change

Last Update:02 November 2024 14:36 ​​IST

For Swachh Bharat to succeed as more than a slogan, we must develop a culture of cleanliness that becomes second nature to every citizen.

People are participating in the Swachh Bharat Mission program at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. (PTI Photo)

Following the recent Diljit Dosanjh concert in Delhi, the stadium was littered with garbage, a disheartening sight that goes beyond the failure of individual event organisers. The stadium was closed to athletes who could not train for a week. The government could invoke a legal liability provision to ensure organizers pay for the clean-up activity. But the issue is not about legal liability. It’s about how India needs a cultural shift towards cleanliness in public life.

Indian Railways spends a staggering few thousand crores every year on cleaning gutka And paan train stains. The problem is not just limited to concerts or train stations; This is a social challenge. India grapples with deep-rooted attitudes that view public spaces as no one’s responsibility. Our collective disconnect from public cleanliness, despite the country devoting huge resources to cleanliness efforts, underscores the gap between our pride in ‘Swachh Bharat’ and our behavior in public spaces.

Spiritual Teachings for Swachh Bharat 2.0

On a global scale, cultures such as Japan’s have woven cleanliness into their social fabric through spiritual and cultural practices. For example, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Japanese fans won worldwide admiration for their stadium cleanliness after winning the World Cup. This was not a publicity stunt, but a practice ingrained in Japanese traditions through the teachings of Shintoism and Buddhism, which view cleansing as both a spiritual duty and a social obligation.

Buddhist teachings, which emphasize purity and respect for the natural world, see cleanliness as essential to honoring the ‘spirit’ believed to inhabit all aspects of nature. Zen Buddhism, meanwhile, teaches that conscious cleansing is an act of humility and self-discipline. Together, these beliefs created a culture in which maintaining cleanliness was an act of respect as well as personal discipline.

In India, we already practice similar values ​​in the sacred spaces of our religious places. Gurudwaras around the world are exemplary in their commitment to cleanliness as a form of service, humility and social respect. Volunteers of all backgrounds and ages perform in a gurudwara ‘sewage’This includes tasks such as washing used plates in the langar (communal kitchen), cleaning the floors and even cleaning visitors’ shoes. This commitment to cleanliness extends to the practice of washing hands and feet before entering the main place of worship, ensuring both physical and spiritual purity.

The ethos of cleanliness in religious places shows that it becomes a powerful practice when society associates cleanliness with the values ​​of service, humility and respect. The care and respect people show in these places reflects values ​​that can and should transcend religious contexts. The respect in which people approach cleanliness in gurudwaras, where they freely clean for others as a form of humility and selfless service, can also extend to larger public spaces. By bringing these values ​​from religious spheres to daily life, society can develop a sense of shared responsibility and pride in maintaining public cleanliness.

Catch Them Young, Build Character

In Japan, a commitment to cleanliness is built into the education system from an early age. In Japanese schools, ‘osouji’ Cleaning time is a daily activity where students, together with their teachers, clean their classrooms, corridors, and even toilets. This practice, seen as an integral part of the student’s development, teaches responsibility, respect for common areas and the value of hard work. Unlike many parts of the world where cleaning is considered a mundane task, in Japan cleaning is a way to build character and instill pride in maintaining a clean environment.

‘From beginning to end’‘Osouji’Students learn to respect others and be mindful of their environment. By actively participating in cleaning from a young age, they understand that keeping places clean is not just the responsibility of cleaning staff, but everyone’s duty. This daily practice has led to a culture in which respecting public spaces becomes second nature, as children grow up viewing cleanliness as part of their civic duty and self-respect.

If India’s education system adopted similar practices, we could see a generation being raised that would treat public spaces with the same respect as private spaces, paving the way for a culture that supports the Swachh Bharat mission at all levels. In order for this cultural change to occur, it is essential to start with education. If we want to raise future generations that respect their environment, the journey needs to start in schools. By putting a broom in the hands of every child, schools can develop the understanding that cleaning is not an ordinary task but a collective responsibility. If students learn to respect and care about their environment from a young age, they are more likely to carry these values ​​into adulthood.

Swachh Bharat Needs More Than a Slogan

For Swachh Bharat to succeed as more than a slogan, we must develop a culture of cleanliness that becomes second nature to every citizen. Our religious and cultural heritage already revere cleansing as a path to inner and outer purity, but we have largely divorced these teachings from daily practices. Civil society should lead by example and education reforms should focus on instilling cleanliness and responsibility in young people. Religious principles that already respect cleanliness as an act of service need to be infused into public life.

By bridging values, principles and daily actions, India can go beyond campaigns and achieve a cultural transformation where cleanliness becomes second nature in every corner of public life.

If every Indian takes ownership of common spaces and understands cleanliness as both a personal duty and an act of communal respect, we can build a cleaner, prouder nation where “Swachh Bharat” is a way of life, not a campaign.

Anu Lall He is the Founder of YogaSmith and the author of 4 books. He is a lawyer and has worked in the pharmaceutical and technology industry in Asia, the US and Europe. The views expressed in the article above are personal and belong solely to the author. These do not necessarily reflect the views of News18.