Swachch Bharat and Desh Bhakti

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Dreaming and acting for Swachch Bharat is simple and pure 'Desh Bhakti. If fighting an outside enemy is essence of patriotism, fighting uncleanliness an enemy within is more than patriotism. 

"Linking cleanness to patriotism? Are you mad? Hope there is no hidden agenda in the proposition…" 

Sorry dear there is no hidden agenda. Patriot defends his/her country against enemies. Uncleanliness is greater enemy. It is enemy within.

We know developed countries like USA cherish very high standards of cleanliness even to the levels of obsessiveness. Katherin Ashenberg in her article in nytimes.com finds roots of this obsessiveness among Americans in American Civil War during which the Sanitary Commission stressed upon use of soap and water to reduce mortality of American soldiers. This idea caught up well duly fanned by spree of advertisements and by the end of the civil war; cleanliness was seen as patriotic, progressive and distinctively American.

Enemy from outside is identifiable but one within is difficult to. It is like terrorism. Terrorists mingle within society and conduct anti -national attacks. Uncleanliness is like terrorism. In some ways it is more fatal. (I am not saying terrorism is not dangerous/fatal). Uncleanliness is with us,within us and is silent killer. During 2013 there were 690 terrorist incidents in India and about 467 were killed and 770 injured as per Global Terrorism Data Base (GTD). Such incidents create terror and we become wary and alert. But silent killer diseases caused by unclean conditions like water contamination are more fatal.But we tend to neglect as we consider as part of our lives. The seriousness can be driven by the fact that one-lakh children die of diarrhoea per annum in India as per The Global Enteric Multicenter Study  (GEMS) published in the medical journal Lancet in 2013.Therefore, fighting an enemy within and saving lives of our nation is nothing but simple and pure patriotism.

Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's idea is to make development part of Jan Andolan. Similarly, Cleanliness also need to be made a Jan Andolan. Swachch Bharat shall become a People's movement… a National movement. 

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Read POST: SWACHCH BHARAT A DREAM OR REALITY

Swachch Bharat a noble dream to realise

Swachch Bharat… Clean India...



Is it a dream? Is there a need for movement? an Abhiyan?  

"I an Indian"  am capable of making a clean area into an unclean area in no time. I am so capable that I need not do anything to achieve this… my presence itself is sufficient. 

I spit on roads 
I spit my paan on walls … ( i am a graffiti artist without paint and brush… i can paint a graffiti with my mouth and with a sound of pch..pch….)
I pee on roads 
I throw plastic everywhere
I have cola and throw the bottle on street
I eat burgers and throw the litter everywhere…
I look stylish i speak foreign and throw bottles, cigarettes here and there.
I make my train compartment filthy and travel hours together after that.
I vist temples and make them dirty… (let me stop here)

In india 
I+I+I+I+I……. has never been WE. I have no concern for We. The  space for I is my own home. The space for We is public space. So i have no concern for anything related to WE.

But when we talk … we declare with pride.. thumping pride  that 
WE ARE A FREE NATION. 
MAY BE WE MEAN WE= I

Therefore We (=I) have a freedom to spit, pee, throw litter everywhere and anywhere that does not concern me. When we=I are free to do all this We expect someone else should take care of the Country. Someone else should clean the country. We talk long… why do i pay taxes why do i elect a government ? I am free… I am free nation. I can do the dirty and someone else shall clean. Who is that someone? We forget that, that someone is also part of free India. 

My personal observation is that I as an Indian, act on only two occasions and talk without action in all other occasions. Those two occasions are 

1. When I have an incentive to act… mujhe kya hai? 
2. When I am coerced to act…. Kaun poochegaa? 

Fear and incentive only can make an Indian act. Otherwise Indian is free… as free as air…

I saw a person spitting in the corridors of a hospital. I couldn't control myself and encountered him… 

"why are you spitting in the corridor? Do you spit in your house?"

First, he was aghast at my attack.Quickly he gathered himself (ego is quick to kick) and like a true Indian became argumentative. With equal ferocity he asked me... 

"could you stop all those who spat like this? Why are you pointing out at me only? finally… the ultimate question… "WHO ARE YOU TO ASK ME? ( meaning i am free)". Result.. i was aghast…

The lesson is … that person who spat in the corridors of a hospital had no incentive not to spit and had no fear of coercion because i was not a force (meaning either legal or illegal force) to coerce him. 

Indians ACT on incentive or due to fear and JUST TALK in all other occasions.

Now revisit our first question. 

Is a movement required for swachch Bharat.. clean India?

WILL Swachch Bharat REMAIN A DREAM OR BECOME A REALITY ?

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Read Post: Swachch Bharat and desk Bhakti