(GIST OF YOJANA) GANDHIJI’S PHILOSOPHY ON SWACHHATA THROUGH SELF-PRACTICE

(GIST OF YOJANA) GANDHIJI’S PHILOSOPHY ON SWACHHATA THROUGH SELF-PRACTICE

(OCTOBER-2024)

GANDHIJI’S PHILOSOPHY ON SWACHHATA THROUGH SELF-PRACTICE

Introduction:

• Cleanliness and sanitation were central to Gandhiji’s philosophy. He viewed them as fundamental human qualities.

• Famous for saying, “Everyone must be his own scavenger,” Gandhiji believed in leading by example, cleaning filth when others refused to.

• His experiences in South Africa and India reinforced his belief in the necessity of personal and community hygiene.

• He declared, “A lavatory must be as clean as a drawing room.”

• Gandhiji’s vision for India’s independence was not only political but also social, with village sanitation and health and hygiene being key components of his 18-point constructive program.

Cleanliness: A Personal Passion for Gandhiji 

Childhood in Porbandar

• Gandhiji’s upbringing in Porbandar exposed him to societal practices of untouchability.

• In his household, touching a Mehtar (sweeper) led to being considered “unclean.” Gandhiji resisted this practice even at a young age.

• He questioned his mother’s practice of making him bathe after touching the scavenger’s son, Uka, reflecting his early rebellion against caste discrimination.

Realization in South Africa

Realization in South Africa Encountering Racial Prejudice

• Gandhiji’s commitment to cleanliness was intensified by his experiences in South Africa, where he faced racial prejudice and saw the poor living conditions of Indian communities.  He emphasized the importance of personal cleanliness and improving sanitary conditions in their surroundings.

Promoting Cleanliness in South Africa

Gandhiji encouraged Indians in South Africa to practice:

• Cleanliness: Personal hygiene and keeping the surroundings clean.

• Truthfulness and learning another language (specifically, English) to improve their social standing.

Hygiene in India: Calcutta Congress Session (1901)

• When Gandhiji attended the 1901 Congress session in Calcutta, he was appalled by the horrible sanitary conditions at the camp.

• Some delegates used the verandas as latrines, yet no one objected to it.

• Despite his position as a lawyer, Gandhiji cleaned the filth himself, leading by example, even when the volunteers refused, stating it was a sweeper’s job.

Fighting Untouchability through Self-Practice

Creation of Bhangi Squads

• Years later, during his leadership in the Indian National Congress, Gandhiji’s efforts led to the formation of Bhangi (sweeper) squads at Congress camps.

Eradicating Manual Scavenging and Stigma Breaking Social Barriers

• Gandhiji wanted to eliminate the stigma associated with manual scavenging.

• He emphasized that society’s mindset needed to change: “Why should scavengers be considered untouchable for cleaning filth?”

• Gandhiji also questioned societal practices like using the left hand for cleaning and considering it impure.

Vinoba Bhave’s Example

• Gandhiji’s close associate, Vinoba Bhave, from the upper caste, performed two significant duties in the ashram:

1. Discourse on the Gita.

2. Cleaning the toilets.

• Bhave’s actions symbolized the equal respect for spiritual work and scavenging, highlighting the dignity of labor.

Swachhata During the Salt March

Instructions to Salt Marchers

• During the Salt March, Gandhiji insisted that all marchers carry sticks to dig small pits as temporary toilets and cover them to maintain hygiene.

• He advocated for sanitation in villages, with volunteers teaching villagers to bury excreta and maintain clean surroundings.

Village Sanitation Initiatives

• Gandhiji led by example, visiting villages with a bucket and broom, cleaning excreta himself, and encouraging others to follow.

• He believed that the cleanliness of Harijan quarters and village sanitation was essential to preventing the spread of disease.

Constructive Program: A Blueprint for True Swaraj

• In his 1945 book, “Constructive Programme: Its Meaning and Place”, Gandhiji outlined a plan for volunteers to work on sanitation and hygiene as part of achieving Poorna Swaraj (complete self-rule).

• He wrote that political freedom should be accompanied by cleanliness and the health of society.

Gandhiji’s Legacy of Swachhata

• Gandhiji’s philosophy of cleanliness was not limited to hygiene but extended to social transformation.

• He believed that true courage lay in being able to clean one’s surroundings, stating, “It needs no less courage to become an expert scavenger than to win a Victoria Cross.”

Conclusion:

• His legacy of Swachhata continues to inspire modern-day cleanliness movements, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, and remains a call for all citizens to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.

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Courtesy: Yojana