Last update:02 November 2024, 2:36 p.m. IST

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

People take part in a Swachh Bharat Mission program at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. (PTI Photo)

After Diljit Dosanjh’s recent concert in Delhi, the stadium was left littered with trash, a disheartening sight that goes far beyond the failure of the event’s individual organizers. The stadium was closed to athletes, who were unable to train for an entire week. The government can invoke a legal liability clause to make organizers pay for the cleanup activity. However, the issue is not one of legal liability. It is about India’s need for a cultural shift towards cleanliness in public life.

The Indian Railways spends a few thousand million dollars every year on cleaning. gutka And paan train spots. The problem is not limited to concerts or train stations; it’s a societal challenge. India grapples with deep-rooted attitudes that public spaces are no one’s responsibility. Our collective disconnect from public cleanliness, even as the country devotes massive resources to cleaning efforts, highlights the gap between our pride in “Swachh Bharat” and our behavior in public spaces.

Spiritual Teachings for Swachh Bharat 2.0

Globally, cultures like Japan have integrated cleanliness into their social fabric through spiritual and cultural practices. For example, Japanese fans at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar attracted worldwide admiration by cleaning up the stadium after winning the World Cup. This was not a publicity stunt but a practice rooted in Japanese customs through the teachings of Shintoism and Buddhism, which view cleanliness as both a spiritual duty and a social obligation.

Buddhist teachings, which emphasize purity and respect for the natural world, view cleanliness as essential to honoring “spirit,” believed to inhabit all aspects of nature. Meanwhile, Zen Buddhism teaches mindful cleansing as an act of humility and self-discipline. Together, these beliefs have created a culture where maintaining cleanliness is as much an act of respect as it is of personal discipline.

In India, we already practice similar values ​​in the sanctuaries of our religious spaces. Gurudwaras around the world are exemplary in their commitment to cleanliness as a form of service, humility and community respect. Inside a gurudwara, volunteers from all backgrounds and ages perform ‘sewa’including tasks such as washing used plates in the langar (community kitchen), mopping the floors and even cleaning visitors’ shoes. This dedication to cleanliness extends to the practice of washing hands and feet before entering the main prayer hall, thereby ensuring physical and spiritual purity.

The philosophy of cleanliness in religious places demonstrates that when society associates cleanliness with the values ​​of service, humility and respect, it becomes a powerful practice. The care and respect people show in these spaces reflect values ​​that can and should transcend religious contexts. The respect with which people approach cleanliness in gurudwaras, where they clean freely for others as a form of humility and selfless service, could also extend to broader public spaces. By integrating these values ​​of religious spaces into daily life, society can foster a shared sense of responsibility and pride in maintaining public cleanliness.

Catch them young, build their character

In Japan, the commitment to cleanliness is nurtured from a young age and ingrained in the education system itself. In Japanese schools, ‘osouji’ or cleaning time, is a daily activity in which students, alongside their teachers, clean their classrooms, hallways, and even toilets. This practice, considered an integral part of student development, teaches responsibility, respect for shared spaces and the value of hard work. Unlike many parts of the world where cleaning is considered menial work, in Japan it is a way to build character and inspire pride in maintaining a clean environment.

Through ‘osouji’students learn to respect others and be attentive to their surroundings. By actively participating in cleaning from a young age, they understand that keeping spaces clean is everyone’s duty, not just the responsibility of cleaning staff. 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 the Indian education system adopted similar practices, we could see a generation raised to treat public spaces with the same respect as private spaces, thereby paving the way for a culture that supports the mission of Swachh Bharat at all levels. For this cultural change to occur, it is essential to start with education. If we want to raise future generations to respect their environment, the journey must begin in schools. By placing a broom in each child’s hand, schools can communicate that cleanliness is not a subordinate role but a collective responsibility. If students learn from a young age to respect and care for their environment, they are more likely to pass these values ​​on into adulthood.

Swachh Bharat needs more than just a slogan

For Swachh Bharat to succeed as more than just a slogan, we need to cultivate a culture of cleanliness that becomes second nature to every citizen. Our religious and cultural heritage already reveres cleanliness as a path to inner and outer purity, but we have largely disconnected these teachings from everyday practice. Civil society must lead by example and educational reforms must focus on inculcating cleanliness and responsibility among the youth. Religious principles that already revere cleanliness as an act of service must be infused into public life.

By bridging the gap between values, principles and everyday actions, India can go beyond the countryside and bring about a cultural transformation where cleanliness becomes second nature in every corner of public life.

If every Indian takes ownership of shared spaces and views cleanliness as a personal duty and an act of community respect, we can build a cleaner, prouder nation, where “Swachh Bharat” is not a campaign but a mode of life.

Anu Lall is the founder of YogaSmith and the author of 4 books. She is a lawyer and has worked in the pharmaceutical and technology industry in Asia, the United States and Europe. The opinions expressed in the article above are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of News18.