I have been following the “Garbage Free India” initiative on Facebook and it has finally given me a incentive to put pen to paper. The initiative aims at sensitising people to keep India garbage free. It talks about “spreading awareness, testing new concepts, and helping our country clean up its act!”
Indeed it is a very nice thought and a noble initiative. But I guess an issue like this needs to be addressed differently. I say “an issue like this” because it is such a grave issue. Not because it tarnishes the image of India and makes it unhygienic, but because it highlights a deep-rooted psychological problem. In India, we tend to keep our homes clean and choose to keep the garbage out. Well, that makes sense, but the problem is, we do not just keep the garbage out, we spread it out. And while doing so, I realise, the underbelly of the collective Indian psyche stands exposed. Here, I do not mean to say that we are a trash-happy nation or that we are hypocrites when it comes to civic issues and public hygiene. Like other ‘civilised’ human beings across the globe, we too love to stay clean and hygienic, at least in the visual sense. Had it not been the case, we would not be keeping our homes clean and throwing the garbage out.
Related: From Littering to Spitting: Sanitary Problems in India’s Public Spaces
But then why do we prefer throwing the garbage out, unmindful of the fact that ultimately it affects the hygiene and public image of our country and our cities? Well, I guess it has nothing to do with lack of awareness or civic bodies not doing their job, it is entirely a psychological issue. If you come to think of it, it is about the absence of a sense of ownership. We keep our homes clean because we feel proud, the moment we step onto the street, we obviously stop feeling at home. No one tends to claim ownership of public places, perhaps people are not bothered about how a public place should be. We litter because we believe nobody is affected and hence no one would question. We believe that we pay taxes hence the Civic Authorities better not question us and instead clean up the mess. The problem precisely lies here and so does the solution.
Guwahati rubbish dump. Image credit: lithics50
As a nation we may showcase much patriotism on days like January 26 (Republic Day) and August 15 (Independence day), or during an India-Pakistan Cricket match, but we should feel proud and patriotic about our on a daily basis. Sadly, like I said, the idea of patriotism is restricted to celebrating a few days and events, and that’s it! The day we realise that patriotism is beyond all this and even amounts to keeping our neighbourhood, our city, our State, and ultimately our nation clean, the heaps of garbage will start getting smaller and soon become a thing of the past.
Garbage & flower on a road side. Image credit: Surya Prakash.S.A.
The day we start feeling for our nation in the true sense, things will change. We wont leave our garbage strewn all over the streets, we wont let drains overflow, we wont waste water, the Indian air wont hang heavy with the smell of corruption, and so on and so forth.
Related: Global Sanitation: Let’s Talk Crap
For now though I guess the lack of patriotism Indians have towards their own country remains exposed. I feel ashamed that in this context, most of us are pseudo patriots. So, it is time to be what we claim to be. It is time to show the world that Indians love India.If you are an Indian, stand up and show your support or feel ashamed.
About the Author
