KACHRA

Rubbish. It stands for garbage in Hindi. Or it may imply anything dirty or useless. A paradox in India is the high regard we have for cleanliness to be maintained in personal hygiene matters and at home. The problem is that it is done at the expense of the surroundings. The house is swept and the dust thrown out of the window. The soiled water from ablutions or washing is allowed to drain to the nearest stream or stagnate if it cannot wend its way. This may have been forgivable a few decades ago in rural settings. The continuation of such wanton acts in this age is akin to committing hara-kiri. In a culture that places so much importance on the elements to the extent of worshipping them it does not befit us to desecrate nature – especially since we venerate it as a mother and our provider and sustainer. Such contradictions are commonplace as modernity rampages on and crushes a lot of the old wisdom.

So we have aunties and kids alike littering at will, and as I mentioned earlier the gentlemen spitting – as if on a target range. A problem compounded by the increasing reliance on packaged items of consumables. Accompanying chemical effluents and the pesticide controversy are articles I won’t venture into. The story of a single aluminum can and will shock you. Check it out. Eats, drinks and other fast moving consumer goods are all packed to add to the product’s allure. Where the plastic and paper ends up is anyone’s guess. Just rip open and use – then throw – where? Anywhere is fine, thank you.

From the train the Styrofoam cups land in the beautiful valley, from the bus onto the new expressway to be swept into the fields, the caterer dumps the refuse and food packets onto the tracks, the bottles and tetra packs clog up drains and sewage lines. Plastic refuse adds “color” to the surrounding, albeit garishly. Yet, sadly we seem to have become insulated from such sights; it doesn’t strike anyone that something is amiss. In spite of all the civic and moral science classes attended in school it adds up to naught. All is required is to be aware of our actions. To know what we are doing and the far reaching consequences of our actions however innocuous they seem today. Educated urban youth (nowhere near urbane) too fail to exercise restraint in littering. Yes, there are very few waste bins around – but what prevents us from holding on to that wrapper or bag till we spot one or get home? Why must we always rely on the government to solve our problems and provide solutions? Are we not a part of the non-functional system? If we were to do our bit – an individual at a time and spread the message I am sure we can ensure a cleaner and environmentally safe future. Any ideas and suggestions are welcome – do try to spread the message. Set an example for your friends and the younger kids in the family politely correct the elders and most importantly stand up for what is right when you see someone littering publicly. Upbraid them – pick up their refuse if they refuse!

The amount of waste and litter that assaults the senses anywhere is infuriating. Inured to filth that lays waste around us we may end up living in a veritable garbage dump because that is all that will be left. Let us not make the mistake of dismissing the possibility of that happening as mere “Rubbish!”