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‘Swachhata Deep’
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“Sanitation & health lay hidden in night; God said, let Pathak be, and all was light”
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A Good News Weekly
Vol - 2 | Issue - 41 | Sep 24 - 30, 2018 | Price ` 5/-
Sweeping Away Societal Barriers With ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and his Sulabh family participated in the cleanliness drive, with a unique insight that cleanliness is a service beyond castes swastika tripathi
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eptember 15, 2018, marked the beginning of a movement unlike any other where Indian masses took to the streets of the nation to sweep it clean. A movement which was not a mere symbolism but denotes a culture that was observed even during the ancient Indus Valley
civilisation. A culture of cleanliness, health, hygiene, sanitation, equality and happiness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the citizens of India to adopt cleanliness as a service to the people and the nation. He marked September 15, 2018, as the beginning of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ (cleanliness is service) campaign. He
himself actively lead the campaign by performing Shramdaan at a school in Delhi. The PM first launched the Swachhata Hi Seva movement through a video conference interaction with a cross-section of people from 17 locations across the country. He then, leaving behind the customary protocol of special
traffic movement, travelled to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School (whose campus had been bought by Dr Ambedkar himself in 1946 with an aim to advance the educational, social and economic well-being of Scheduled Castes) at Rani Jhansi Road in central Delhi. He offered floral tributes to a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar, and
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participated in the cleanliness drive. He also interacted with young students at the school, and exhorted them towards the cause of Swachhata. In the launch address to the nation, the PM said, “Cleanliness and hygiene of our homes and ourselves, keeping our surroundings clean, keeping the environment clean have all been a very important aspect of our culture and teaching for thousands of years. We just need to remind ourselves of our rich culture and valuable teachings and put it to practice in our lives. In fact, service for cleanliness is similar to service to God. Rather, our traditional and cultural message has been the same.” He added, “The contribution of India’s Nari Shakti (women) in the Swachh Bharat Mission is immense…
Quick Glance India is observing ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign from September 15 to October 2 Sulabh family participated in the cleanliness drive alongwith Brahman priests Dr Pathak highlighted that cleanliness and sanitation are a culture beyond castes
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
“If the entire population will dirty the nation and only one small section of ‘untouchables’ will clean it, dirtiness is bound to spread” Youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in India.” Who would have thought four years ago that nine crore toilets would be built and 4.5 lakh villages will be declared open defecation free in such a
short span. Boosted by this, all sections of the society and every part of the country joined the cleanliness drive. Among the prominent participants of the Swachhata Hi Seva movement was the silent crusader of cleanliness and sanitation Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and his entire Sulabh International Social Service Organisation family who took
to the streets of Delhi, sweeping it clean whilst enthusiastic children voiced slogans such as “Swachh Bharat Ka JanAbhiyaan, Jaag Raha Hai Hindustan” and “Sulabh Swachh Deep Jalana Hai, Bharat Ko Swachh Banana Hai”. Sweeping Away Societal Differences Among the energetic participants was a unique sight of Brahmins in orange attires sweeping the streets with brooms, proving that cleanliness – a task which was limited to ‘untouchables’ once – has spread beyond castes. “Swachh Bharat is a symbol of mass participation and purity. Humans form society and in this society, the priority is to create an environment which is clean. Brahmins have been participants of cleanliness for ages. Be it Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas or Shudras, when it comes to cleanliness there is no divide between them. This will be a turning point and a message of unity for the generations to come,” said Santosh Kumar Dwivedi, a Brahmin priest who participated in Sulabh’s Swachhata Hi Seva drive. Sanitation Is Attached To Culture Everything has its link attached to
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Sulabh Swachhata Deep
cultures. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, highlighted that similarly sanitation, too, has its links attached to culture. “Our nation has had a culture of cleanliness since the ancient
Let Pathak Be, And All Was Light!
civilisations of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. Where it went wrong was during the Vedic period when the job of cleanliness was burdened over only one minor section of the society. It was obvious that while the entire population will dirty the
Igniting the ‘Sulabh-Swachh Deep’ for a Clean India
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anitation and health lay hidden in night, God said, let Pathak be, and all was light. With the slogan “Sulabh-Swachh Deep Jalaein, Laxmi Ji Ko Ghar Mein Laein”, Sulabh’s cleanliness drive under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign was followed by the lighting of lamps in the entire Sulabh Gram by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and volunteers. Walking an extra mile, Sulabh International continued celebrating the campaign even in the evening by lighting a series of
gig lamps symmetrically arranged to do completely away with the darkness of dirt and hail the light of cleanliness. The evening celebration was a symbol of ‘Gandagi asatya hai, Swachhata satya hai’, i.e. let’s move away from the falsehood of dirt to the truth of cleanliness. Let the permanence of swachhata prevail over the momentariness of dirt. Let’s all spread Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message far and wide and make swachhata the mission to serve mankind.
Just as we fix dates for Diwali, Eid and other festivals, the PM has urged the nation to celebrate September 15 as ‘Swachhata Divas’ nation and only one small section of ‘untouchables’ will clean it, dirtiness is bound to spread,” said Dr Pathak. He said that this division of castes cost India heavily. So the prime minister has taken up the issue of sanitation and cleanliness as seriously as Mahatma Gandhi had. Wherever he goes be it America, Australia, China, South Africa, the PM talks of sanitation. Just as we fix dates for Diwali, Eid and other festivals in our culture, the prime minister has urged
the nation to celebrate September 15 as ‘Swachhata Divas’. Exit Is More Important Than Intake Dr Pathak has been active in the field of sanitation for 50 years. He firmly believes in the popular saying: I will die with my boots on, i.e. he will work till the very last breath of his life. Speaking after the cleanliness drive, Dr Pathak said, “Adding liveliness to life is an art. Prime Minister
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What is ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’?
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
People are now well-versed that cleanliness is next to godliness. Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of a clean India, which Dr Pathak gave shape to
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wachhata Hi Seva’ (SHS) is a jan andolan (mass movement) for ‘swachhata’ (cleanliness) being observed in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), from September 15 to October 2, 2018, as the sanitation movement enters its final leg. SHS 2018 follows the success of the SHS 2017, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. SHS 2018 culminates with the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) from September 29 to October 2, 2018, which also marks the start of 150th birth year celebrations of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. SHS aims at accelerating the jan-andolan for realising Bapu’s vision of a Clean India, further reinforcing the belief that ‘sanitation is everyone’s business’.
Narendra Modi is the first PM to give importance to cleanliness and sanitation. Mahatma Gandhi had once said that ‘exit of the food is as important as in-take.’ But I believe that the exit of the food is more important than in-take.” Learning From Lee Kuan & Singapore Dr Pathak narrated an incident which marks the importance of cleanliness and sanitation. In 1965 when Lee Kuan Yew became the prime minister of Singapore, he asked his advisor Albert Winsemius that how to develop Singapore? He told him five things, three of which were – firstly, English should be the national language; secondly, since Singapore is a small nation and cannot do industrialisation so it should do marketing; thirdly, the citizens have a bad habit of spitting wherever they want and so cleanliness is the most important aspect if we want to develop Singapore. Lee Kuan held on to the third advice and Singapore went on to become one of the cleanest nations, where now you will have to pay a fine of $500 if you dirty it in any manner. The average yearly income of Singaporeans which was $400 in 1965 took a stupendous hike on the back of development through cleanliness to $12000 per capita income in 1990. Within a span of 25 years only, Singapore became a developed nation. Dr Pathak said, “Sanitation has linkages with health and
development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also held onto the same basic mantra of cleanliness and sanitation. He envisions an India which is clean, healthy and as developed as Singapore.” The Symbol Of Cleanliness Speaking on the occasion, Sulabh foundation chairman SP Singh said, “Symbolism is a big thing. The man who has worked for 50 years without resting, is our symbol of inspiration, our symbol of sanitation. Sulabh flag flies high. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak has brought everyone together. He is the symbol of cleanliness and sanitation – be it bodily cleanliness or the purification of soul and mind.” He added that there was a time when people were hesitant in telling that they work for sanitation and its philosophy, afraid that others will make fun of them. But today, even the prime minister is giving voice to sanitation and its importance. People now sing the song of sanitation. Not Only Own But Cleaning Others’ Stools Remembering an incidence which once took place in his life, Sulabh official Awadhesh Sharma said, “I remember, once I was hearing someone say that we know of three people who cleaned their stools on their own – Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. I then and there told him that you took the names of those who cleaned their own stools, but you should also mention the name
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WASH
Kids & Mothers Protected Under SBM Umbrella According to a recent UN report, India has made rapid progress in increasing access to sanitation in schools and rural areas
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he World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently published results of a study by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools. The report, titled ‘Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools: 2018 Global Baseline Report’, highlights the importance of WASH facilities in promoting school attendance and providing a healthy learning environment. According to the report, India has made rapid progress in increasing access to sanitation in schools. It also noted that the proportion of
schools without any sanitation facility has decreased at a fast pace in the country. The report said “India has made rapid progress in increasing access to sanitation facilities in schools.” Between 2000 and 2016, the proportion of schools in India without any sanitation facility decreased even faster than the proportion of the population practising open defecation. Based on these trends, the JMP estimates that almost all schools in India had some type of sanitation facility in 2016. 10 years earlier half the schools in India reported having no sanitation facility at all.
Between 2000 and 2016, the number of school-age children in India increased from 352 million to 378 million. The number of deaths of children under the age of five in India declined to 802,000 in 2017 from around 1 million two years ago. That means close to 200,000 lives have been saved – these are children who would have otherwise been lost to
“Mahatma Gandhi said ‘exit of the food is as important as in-take.’ But I believe exit of the food is more important than in-take”
preventable and treatable diseases. More than 85.2 million toilets have been built in rural India since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in 2014, and 459 of the country’s 718 districts have been declared open-defecation free. Now there is evidence to show improving sanitation and hygiene results in fewer illnesses and better health. of the great personality who not only cleaned his stool but also others’. And that person is none other than Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, who was sitting right next to that person.” He added that dreaming is easy but turning it into a reality needs putting in painful efforts with patience. Everything may seem dark and your destination may be unknown to you but you need to keep walking. The journey has to itself become the destination. And when that happens, you become Dr Bindeshwar Pathak. Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness According to another Sulabh official, Arjun Prasad Singh, it is Dr Pathak’s integrity and continuous perseverance that sanitation is now a movement not only in India but across the globe. His works go down the pages of history – from his innovative sanitation techniques, open-defecation-free campaign, to bringing the onceuntouchables into the mainstream of society or leasing a new life to widows.” People are now well-versed that cleanliness is next to godliness. Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of a clean India, to which Dr Pathak gave shape of a movement and now has the voice and support of the prime minister himself. It is not just an individual’s but the entire nation’s duty now to ensure that the Clean India mission becomes everybody’s vision.
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Swachhata Deep
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Cleanliness drive
Grand Spread Of 9,000 Sulabh Toilets “Sanitation and health lay hidden in night; God said, let Pathak be, and all was light”
Sanjay Tripathi, Pramod Makkar and Shweta Rakesh
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n 15th September 2018, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation all over India participated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme “Swachhata Hi Seva” with vigour and conviction. Cleanliness drive was carried out on behalf of Sulabh toilets located across the country, including Delhi. As Sulabh is in the habit of walking an extra mile, they continued the campaign even in the evening by lighting a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged to do completely away with the darkness of dirt and hail the light of cleanliness. Sulabh toilets from Kashmir to Kanyakumari were shining with ‘Swachhata Deeps’. With the sanitation message at the toilet gate, the banners were hung along with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and founder of Sulabh Dr Bindeshwar Pathak. ‘Gandagi asatya hai, Swachhata satya hai’
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Andaman Nicobar
There are two Sulabh toilets in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman Nicobar. In-charge Piyush Kumar told that around 15 Sulabh workers took command of cleaning around the Chatham Saw Mill, Port Blair, and near Gandhi’s statue. Lt Governor DK Joshi also participated in the campaign near Cellular Jail. Apart from this, cleanliness drive took place at Kala Pani, Marina Park, Gandhi Park, Corbyn’s Cove beach, Wandoor beach, Mohanpura Bus Stand. In the evening, the Swachhata deep was lighten-up on both the toilets.
Haryana
On September 15, 2018, a total of 80 Sulabh toilets in Haryana were brightened up with the ‘Swachhata Deep’. Panchkula, Kalka, Pinjore, Ambala city were decorated like a temple. Apart from this, the toilets of Kurukshetra’s Pipli, Hisar, and Bhiwani also kept on shining all night. Pramod Singh, deputy controller of Sulabh, said that along with 60 workers, Gyanchand Gupta, MLA of Panchkula, and Bhawanjit Singh, Chief Manager of Haryana Roadways, have also joined the cleaning campaign and appealed everyone for a clean city. With the help of Asim Goyal, MLA of Ambala city, people cleaned-up the city. On this occasion, Goyal said that cleanliness is essential for physical and mental health. The country is moving on the same path of sanitation on which Sulabh laid the foundation.
Gujarat
Sulabh has launched the cleanliness campaign in 26 cities of Gujarat. In which school children of 10 cities were also involved. Sunil Kumar Singh, Controller of Gujarat, said that “Our focus was on the slums and roads of the city. Along with local people, mayors and employees of Nagar Nigam and local legislators have also joined us.” Swachhata deep were lit in total of 250 toilets in the state at 6 o’clock in the evening.
Chhattisgarh
Controller of Sulabh, Sanjeev Kumar said, “We have a total of 565 Sulabh toilets. We have undertaken cleanliness drive in 19 cities. In this campaign, our 900 workers were involved. Local citizens and school children also had tremendous contribution. About 3,000 people joined us. The cleaning also came to fruition and after 6 pm the entire area of toilets was lit with diyas. In Mata village of Raipur, Subhash Nagar, campaign took place at the bus stand, while the local mayor in Vilaspur also came forward in the cleanliness drive with Sulabh. Rajendra Gandhian MP, Abhishek Singh also contributed to this campaign.
Jharkhand
Anand Shekhar, the controller of Sulabh, said that a total of 22 districts of Jharkhand celebrated the Swachhata Divas. “Our cleanliness campaign began at 11 o’clock. We carried a cleanliness drive on Ranchi’s Birsa Masuda bus stand, Jamshedpur and Hazaribagh. Students and teachers from Sulabh Public School also participated in the campaign.” He said that after cleaning all 350 toilets in the state, the diyas were lit-up in the evening.
Jammu Kashmir
The valleys of Jammu and Kashmir were brightening up from the diyas of sanitation. Anil Kumar, controller of J&K branch of Sulabh, said that the diyas was lit in 178 toilets in the state. We started cleaning operations in 21 cities of 9 districts. Local people, along with 500 employees of Sulabh, joined the campaign. The bus stand and the government hospitals were cleaned up. The Kathua vegetable market, where there was too much filth, the workers of Sulabh and the vegetable market vendor cleaned it together.
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Swachhata Deep
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Assam
At Guwahati railway station, Kamakhya railway station, Adabari bus stand and outskirts of Tejpur University ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign was carried out by workers of Sulabh. Sulabh controller Vimal Mohan Jha said, “There are three Sulabh public toilets in Assam. Local workers also got support from our workers as well. At 11:30 am the cleaning campaign started. Sweets were also distributed in all three toilet-complexes. Swachhata deep lighting programme started at around 6 pm.” Apart from this, Prasenjit Das, Managing Director of Kamakhya Railway Station, Vishwas Jha, Director of Guwahati Railway and Praveen Kumar, Airport Manager, who were involved in the cleaning campaign, were also felicitated by Sulabh.
Bihar
Around 50 years ago, the Sulabh movement was started from Bihar, with the objective of spreading awareness on cleanliness and on September 15, 2018, this message was once again spread across the state, when 70 Sulabh toilets in Bihar participated in the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ programme. In Rampur Baghel, the birthplace of the founder of Sulabh, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, 200 employees of Sulabh along with 2000 citizens participated in the cleaning campaign. A programme on ‘Toilets’ was organised in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan. Sita Sahu mayor of Patna Municipal Corporation, was also present. She said that the common people should learn from Sulabh. Swachhata campaign was launched in 25 cities and diyas were lightened in all Sulabh toilets.
Andhra Pradesh
In 14 cities of Andhra Pradesh ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign was organised, under which 20 sites were cleaned up. A large number of men and women along with children actively participated. This participation shows that not only Sulabh and government but the common people of the country are also actively playing role in the Swachhata campaign. Sri Venkateswara High School of Tirupati played an important role in making this programme even more successful. The school’s Principal V Muni Ratnam Naidu, along with the teachers and students, organised a rally and awareness campaign. Controller PC Gupta said that in the evening, ‘Sulabh swachhata deep’ was lit, in 68 Sulabh toilets campus.
Madhya Pradesh
On 15th September, 2018, on the occasion of ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’, cleanliness campaign was started in 40 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 3,000 workers of Sulabh had participated. Anil Kumar Jha, the controller of Sulabh, said that Sulabh workers cleaned bus stands, vegetable markets, hospitals and roads in their respective cities. All the 11,000 toilets were lightened up with ‘Sulabh Swachhata Deep’.
Kerala
In all 35 toilets of 11 cities in 40 districts of Kerala, Swachhata deep were lightened-up at 6 o’clock in the evening. Controller Vimal Kumar Jha informed that 11 of 35 toilets are in Trivandrum itself. 20 workers of Sulabh cleaned the platforms of Kochuveli railway station.
Karnataka
After the cleaning of their toilets, Sulabh workers from Karnataka went out to clean their own towns. Convener of Sulabh in Karnataka, Malaga Vishwanath, said that by lighting the Swachhata Deep in all the 300 toilets in the state, it felt like we celebrated Deepawali. Sulabh workers in Bangalore cleaned the Majestic bus stand, Government Hospital and Bull Temple. In this campaign, children from 40 schools also participated.
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Himachal Pradesh
Vinay Kumar, controller of Sulabh of Himachal Pradesh, explains, ‘Cleaning work has been done in 10 cities of the state. There are a total of 208 Sulabh toilets. 500 Sulabh workers participated in the campaign. It started around 11:30 am from the Chamunda Devi temple, Rejuvenation Hospital, Palampur in Himachal University, (Shimla), New bus station, Nahan Trilokpur temple, Rohtang Pass, Manali, Vilaspur bus stand, Mandi bus stand, Dharamshala. Jiyalal, MLA of Bharmour, also joined the campaign to motivate people. In the evening, all the toilets were shining with ‘Swachhata Deep’, which was a part of the programme.
West Bengal
Cleanliness drive in 11 districts of the state and the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, under the wings of the West Bengal branch, started ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2018’ mission. Controller of West Bengal and Sikkim, Vijay Kumar Jha, informed that around 450 workers of Sulabh participated. DRM PK Mishra, Asansol, was present as the Chief Guest. More than 1000 people attended the programme. PK Mishra appreciated the work and workers of Sulabh International. The cleaning campaign was also supported by Mr Tripathi, Head of Mejia Thermal Plant in Banka district. DRM of Eastern Railway Prabhat Dansana also contributed in Sulabh event. In the evening festival also, efforts were made to create awareness about cleanliness in the public by lighting a Swachhata Deep in around 70 Sulabh toilets.
Maharashtra
On September 15, Sulabh toilets across the country were lightenup by Swachhata Deep. Controller Ram Naresh Jha said that all Sulabh workers lightened-up the diyas in their houses and at the Sulabh toilets. There are 734 toilets in Maharashtra. 1750 Sulabh workers participated in the campaign. Under the leadership of Vivek Rahi, Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai’s ‘B’ ward, Assistant Engineer Ajay Rane and Sulabh workers started the cleaning campaign. Thane legislator Niranjan Dwarkade and Sanjay Kelkar also joined the campaign.
Tripura
Under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2018’ programme, more than 100 Sulabh workers of Sulabh’s Agartala branch on September 15 provided their support. Meanwhile, the school and police outpost of Harijan Colony in Agartala was cleaned. Everybody appreciated the work of Sulabh. In the evening, Swachhata Deep was lightened-up in 15 toilets.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu branch of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation played an important role in the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ programme. More than 200 Sulabh workers were at the 10 important locations like airport, market, bus stand etc. and participated in the cleaning campaign. In the programme, Ramanathapuram District Collector, K Vira Raghavan Rao, IAS Om Prakash Meena also contributed. In the evening, the Sulabh deep festival was celebrated by lighting the swachhata deep in the branch office and 10 toiletpremises.
Odisha
While participating in the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ programme, Sulabh’s Odisha branch also played an important role. Vinod Kumar Sharma, Managing Controller of Odisha State Branch said that more than 80 Sulabh workers participated in the cleaning of 25 cities of Odisha, bus stands, public parkings etc. On this occasion, Mayor of Bhubaneswar municipal corporation Anant Narayan Jena, Deputy Mayor K Meenakshi, Corporator Nayak made an integral contribution in this cleaning
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RAjasthan
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campaign. Anant Narayan Jena said in his statement that Sulabh International in Odisha is playing a very important role. Dr Bindeswar Pathak is one of the greatest people in the world, who has been running the movement of cleanliness since the year 1970. In addition, he appreciated the work of the Sulabh International workers. Along with this, Srikant Tori, the executive officer of Puri’s District Magistrate, Jyoti Prakash Das, IAS, PRDA, Uddhav Chandra Majhi, IAS, and the entire Municipal Corporation while appreciating the activities of Sulabh International, contributed to this cleaning drive with local workers of Sulabh. In the evening, the lamp festival was celebrated by lighting the Swachhata deep at the branch office and 255 toilet-premises. Apart from this, in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and other states ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ cleaning campaign was also celebrated with great fanfare and lighting of Swachhata deep in all the toilets.
UTTARAKHAND
SOME MORE FROM BIHAR
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International Service Organisation, started the Swacchata movement around 50 years back from Bihar. In 1973 he met with a municipal officer in Arra town, who sanctioned him Rs 500 to build two public toilets. This proved to be a catalyst and soon several other toilets were built all over Bihar. Few pictures from the cleanliness drive in his village.
PUNJAB
GOA
Celebrating NaMo’s Birthday
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Grand Event
568-Kg Laddu To Mark The Big Day
Sulabh International Social Service Organisation organised a gala event at Mavalankar Hall in New Delhi
swastika tripathi
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or the first time in India it so happened that a prime minister utilised his stature to make his countrymen realise a valuable lesson – to develop a healthy habit of cleanliness and fulfill the dream of a ‘Swachh Bharat’ (clean India) that our father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, our beloved Bapu, saw.
The prime minister not only spoke big words but actually took it upon himself to begin a drive of swachhata. He picked up a broom on the Mahatma’s 145th birth anniversary on October 2, 2014, swept streets, encouraged the nation to join hands with him in the cleanliness drive, and thus began the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. This prime minister is Narendra Modi, whose birthday falls on
September 17. And what better way to wish such a legend than marking the day as ‘Swachhata Divas’ (a day of service)? That is what Sulabh International Social Service Organisation has been doing since 2015. This year again, on the 68th birthday of the PM, a celebration like none other took place at the Mavalankar Hall in New Delhi. The celebration was graced by the presence of Union Minister of
Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar as the chief guest, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as the presiding over guest and eminent poet and journalist Pt. Suresh Neerav as the guest of honour. The two union ministers unveiled a larger-than-lifesize ladoo weighing 568 kg, whilst little school children enthusiastically cheered, sung ‘Happy Birthday’, and waved their
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Celebrating NaMo’s Birthday
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak showing the exhibition to Prakash Javadekar
Dr Pathak, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi & Prakash Javadekar lighting the lamp
Sharing the 568-Kg Laddu
Dr Pathak along with school childrens wishing PM Modi Happy Birthday
pompoms. Speaking on the occasion, eminent poet and journalist Pt. Suresh Neerav said, “First Gandhi made cleanliness a mass movement. Now PM Modi has done the same and taking forward Bapu’s dream. But in between, Dr Pathak is the man who has consistently worked on sanitation and cleanliness for the people of the nation and beyond through his inventions and technologies. He is like the bridge that connects PM Narendra Modi to Mahatma Gandhi on this cleanliness drive.” Also present in the gathering was Abdul Lateef Khan, who had come all the way from Jammu and Kashmir to grace the occasion. Terming Dr Pathak as the second-Gandhi, he said, “It is due to Dr Pathak’s efforts that the world is witnessing a beautiful India. PM Modi and Dr Pathak are two true soldiers of cleanliness revolution. They have taken up the initiative of restoring India as the Golden Bird it once was, where there
Pt. Suresh Neerav addressing the audience
“Dr Pathak is like the bridge that connects PM Narendra Modi to Mahatma Gandhi on this cleanliness drive” – Eminent poet & journalist Pt. Suresh Neerav
will be no differences and everbody will be equal.” Former scavengers Usha Sharma (who was originally Chaumar) and Pooja Sharma, and widows of Vrindavan also extended their best wishes to the PM on his birthday. Usha and Pooja narrated the story of how from the dark days of manual scavenging to living a life of dignity, they have come a long way with the help and support of Dr Pathak who converted them from ‘untouchables’ to Brahmins and brought them to the mainstream of the society. The guests were welcomed in traditional Sulabh style with garlands, bouquets, scarves and mementos. An exhibition displaying the journey of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also organised by Sulabh on the occasion which was visited by the eminent guests, who also scribbled their wishes and messages on the message-board there. The celebration was followed by a cultural programme in which children enthusiastically showcased their talents.
Celebrating NaMo’s Birthday
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Special Birthday Wish
“A Source Of Inspiration To All Indians”
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak said that our Prime Minister’s resolve to make India ODF, clean and healthy has been inspired by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi
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arm wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. Sulabh family prays you stay healthy, live long and may all your wishes get fulfilled. Mahatma Gandhi had envisioned not only an independent but clean India. It was his dream that India be clean. In fact he used to say that we want a clean India before independent India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first PM to have held the issue of sanitation and cleanliness very close to his heart and taken it to the masses. He has given it the shape of a movement. Today everybody is aware of sanitation and its importance, which is a sign that the culture of sanitation is reviving as it was during the Mohenjo-daro civilisation. Sulabh is also continuously striving through new techniques and movements that soon we have a clean India that stands tall as a developed nation. On August 15, 2014, when the prime minister urged the people of the nation from the Red Fort to ensure that nobody litters and everybody contributes towards a clean India, it had a big impact and everyone showed awareness around cleanliness. Prime Minister Modi himself picked up a broom and did away with the caste-divisions related to cleanliness. He expressed his concern about the lack of toilets in schools leading to increase in the number of drop-out girls. He promised proper toilets to all schools within a year’s span. It is a good thing that all schools have toilet facilities today. The Prime Minister’s impassioned call for toilet to every household in order to stop the practice of outdoor defecation
PM Modi seldom fails to underline the importance of toilets for toiletless people, even when visiting foreign countries
has electrified the common people for the need to have a sanitary toilet. Examples of popular enthusiasm for toilets are abound. A poor old lady of about 100 years sold her goats and paid the money for the building of her household toilet. Now increasingly, the marriageable girls are persuading their parents to first see whether the would-be in-laws’ house has a toilet or not. Some of them are asking for a toilet as dowry instead of ornaments! The popular concern for cleanliness and sanitation has taken the form of a mass movement and the entire credit for this goes to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is leading the country from the front, giving importance to “small things” of life such as cleanliness and health without which no country can become great. Prime Minister Narendra Modi seldom fails to underline the importance of toilets for toiletless
people, even when visiting foreign countries and meeting the heads of states. He kept alive the issue of toilets when he met the US President Barack Obama and when he visited Australia and China. No previous Prime Minister showed such enthusiasm for sanitation. In 1901 the Mahatma took up the broom in his hands and cleaned the venue of the Indian National Congress Convention in Calcutta; the same way our prime minister took up a broom and cleaned the streets of Delhi and other places. He took a shovel in his hands and led the drive to clean the Assi Ghat in Varanasi. Now the Assi Ghat is one of the cleanest Ghats in Varanasi where devout people throng to take a dip in the holy river Ganga and offer their puja, and the visiting tourists take pleasure in the ethereal beauty of Ganga and the rising sun. By setting a
personal example for cleanliness, our prime minister has enthused millions of men, women and children for the cause of a clean and healthy India. PM Modi is now stressing on the need for constructing toilets in all households pan-nation on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He is determined about it as it will be a true tribute to the father of the nation. Cleanliness is directly linked with development. In 1965 when Lee Kuan Yew became the prime minister of Singapore, he asked his advisor Albert Winsemius that how to develop Singapore? He told him five things, one of which the importance of cleanliness and sanitation. He said the citizens here have a bad habit of spitting wherever they want and so cleanliness is the most important aspect if we want to develop Singapore. Lee Kuan held on to the third advice and Singapore went on to become one of the cleanest nations, where now you will have to pay a fine of $500 if you dirty it in any manner. The average yearly income of Singaporeans which was $400 in 1965 took a stupendous hike on the back of development through cleanliness to $12000 per capita income in 1990. Within a span of 25 years only, Singapore became a developed nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also held onto the same basic mantra of cleanliness and sanitation and worked especially upon Swachh Bharat. He envisions an India which is clean, healthy and as developed as Singapore. I have tried summing PM Modi’s efforts in four lines: “Swachh Ho Bharat Apna, Modi Ji Ka Hai Sapna Bharat Ko Swachh Banaenge, Vikasit Desh Kehlaenge” Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!
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Celebrating NaMo’s Birthday
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
“Toilets & Sulabh Are Synonymous” Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, lauded Dr Bindeshwar Pathak for his tremendous efforts towards a clean and healthy India
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congratulate everyone for we have gathered here today to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday as ‘Swachhata Divas’. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak began his toilet revolution despite belonging to a Brahmin family. I can imagine even his family members had been against him saying what kind of work is this. It’s been 50 years to his tireless journey and his efforts to make toilets accessible to the people. His dedication is laudable and I bow down and salute to him. Celebrating PM Modi’s birthday as ‘Swachhata Divas’ shows your awareness on the importance of cleanliness and
your devotion to ensure that every nook and corner of the nation is spick and span. In 2014, when PM Narendra Modi became the prime minister of India, the slogan he gave was of ‘Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat’, i.e. Clean India, Healthy India. Many people criticised him saying talking toilets, sweeping streets are not a prime minister’s job. He should instead concentrate on the development of roads, airports, hospitals, etc. and foreign affairs. The prime minister not only picked up a broom in his hand but also encouraged crores of Indians to do the same and told them to begin the cleanliness movement from their homes. The PM himself steps out on the streets to clean the nation. His ministers, governors, MPs all of them learn from him. This is not mere symbolism. If only we ourselves participate on the grassroots, then only we can inspire others to part-take as well. For this, the biggest step that the PM took was of banning the red beacons for VIPs. It was something the ‘VIPs’ boasted of, so the PM removed that not only himself but made his ministers do the same. He said remove the red beacons and instead pick up the brooms in your hands, so that the citizens feel connected to you.
“You say toilet, they think Sulabh. Sulabh has become a brand. And the brand is a result of Dr Pathak’s tremendous efforts” Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked on the path of reform and took the nation ahead. The result of this is clearly infront of us. Yoga has been the identity of India for ages. He took it abroad and gave it a global recognition. Today, the world celebrates International Day of Yoga. While he made cleanliness a movement, he ensured health becomes a part of it, too. So I thank each and everyone present here to celebrate the birthday of such a great prime minister. I admire Dr Pathak and his entire Sulabh family for engaging energetically in the sanitation and social reform movement. He would
have never even imagined that his movement will become so popular amongst the masses, that it will be widely accepted. We now have many other toilets being constructed pan-India, but if one asks what this is, their immediate response is that it is a ‘Sulabh Shauchalaya’. So what has happened is that even if somebody else has constructed that toilet, people presume it is a Sulabh toilet. Toilets and Sulabh are now synonymous to people. You say toilet, they think Sulabh. Sulabh has become a brand. And the brand is a result of Dr Pathak’s tremendous efforts. For that I thank him.
Celebrating NaMo’s Birthday
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Prakash Javadekar
“Change The Mindset, Cleanliness Will Follow” Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar, highlighted the importance of changing mindsets for cleanliness to prevail
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he entire nation is celebrating the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What a prime minister we have who prefers being called a ‘Pradhan Sevak’ (prime servant) rather than ‘Pradhan Mantri’ (prime minister). Instead of celebrating September 17 as his birthday he envisioned celebrating it as ‘Seva Divas’ (a day of service) and he himself participated in it. This year, in fact, he earmarked the period from September 17 to 25 as ‘Seva Saptah’ (a week of service) in which he will gift the entire nation a health insurance scheme – ‘Ayushman Bharat’ – so that the poor can avail health benefits and have better access to health facilities. If one (or two) member(s) of a family is admitted to a hospital, then a bill of up to Rs five lakh will be covered by the government. What is more important than health facilities and benefits is that the people do not fall ill and feel the need to go to hospitals. For that there are 2 mantras – the first is Yoga to keep the body healthy; and the second is cleanliness because a clean nation ensures that there are no diseases. In the last 70 years, people never believed that the entire nation could be clean and every household will have access to toilets. Toilets were earlier also constructed by various governments but they were never utilised and instead used as storage areas or for keeping animals. What was missing was the thought to change people’s thinking and attitude towards toilets and sanitation. When there is a change in thinking, only then people start utilising toilets. When Dr Bindeshwar Pathak started his sanitation movement, I was in college. Since then I had been following him through the news. I used to wonder back then what kind
“I saw even the poor paying for toilets in view with the facilities they were getting in return. That is the greatest contribution of Dr Pathak” of a mass movement is this? Whether anyone will even pay for a toilet? But I saw even the poor paying in view with the great facilities they were getting in return. And thus it became a habit. This is the greatest contribution of Dr Pathak. From then to now the state of sanitation in the nation has gradually improved. Toilets were constructed and cleanliness increased. But, despite his years of tireless dedication, toilet to each and every household was still a work in progress. The total coverage stood at 30 per cent. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the Swachh Bharat movement from Red Fort on October 2, 2014, within the first year itself toilets were constructed for girl students in 4.25 lakh schools. This boosted the faith that ‘Yes, such changes are possible in India if one is determined’. It is this determination on the back of which more than nine crore toilets have been constructed, the 30 per cent toilet
coverage in the nation has hiked to 90 per cent, and 4.5 lakh villages, over 430 districts and 20 states are now opendefecation-free. The remaining work will be wrapped up in coming one year. And the ultimate aim is that when the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated in 2019, India has a 100 per cent access to toilets. This is the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As rightly put by eminent poet and journalist Pt. Suresh Neerav here, Dr Pathak has worked as the bridge connecting PM Modi to Mahatma Gandhi. He kept the cleanliness and sanitation movement going and igniting the faith in people’s heart that India can be clean. Cleanliness is not limited to toilet, but toilet sure is a big step towards it. It helps change people’s thinking and habits which they have characterised since ages. For the people who have used toilets since childhood, using a toilet facility is a normal and convenient
thing but for those who have not, open defecation is a natural way. So that is why changing the mindset is more important. The entire campaign run by the prime minister focused on the health hazards that open defecation brings. It is evident that more the sanitation coverage of India is increasing, more the possibilities of diarrhea is going down. Cleanliness as well as health is the main objective of Swachh Bharat. 15-20 thousand tonnes of plastic are used on a daily basis, of which 6-7 thousand tonnes are dumped into waste which are not decomposable. To tackle with this and other wastes such as electronic, tin, bio-medical, etc. the Modi government came with six waste management rules. This was a major initiative for cleanliness. Based on these rules, the Supreme Court has asked the State Governments to come up with their policies and plans regarding the waste management notice within 2 months. Clean India, Green India is the dream of PM Modi. Dr Pathak initiated it and PM Modi spread it like a fire across the nation. Let India be clean, successful and strong – this was, is and will be our mantra.
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Sep 24 - 30, 2018
VIEWPOINT
Sujit Chakraborty
Sanitation is more important than political freedom Mahatma Gandhi
He is a senior Journalist and author of three books. He has worked with various publications and was the first Indian to manage Bhutan’s first independent daily, Bhutan Today
Ram Mohan and Vidyasagar : Two Giants This week sees the birth anniversary of the great reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and the passing away of another one, Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Give And Take In Social Life If you are contributing positively to society, society will regard you with respect
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o be able to lead a respectable life in society, there is a necessary condition. And that is, you must become someone who is beneficial to others, a ‘giver’, or at least a ‘no-problem person’
as far as others are concerned. Other than these two options, there is no other way for you to lead a respectable life in society. Those who think that there is a third way only go on to create trouble in society and for themselves, too. Social life is always based on the principle of give-andtake. If you are contributing positively to society, society will regard you with respect. And if you think you are not in a position to contribute anything to society, at least you can become a ‘no-problem’ person for others. If you become a giver as far as others are concerned, you are helping society progress. Even if you simply become a ‘no-problem’ person, you are still playing a social role — by not placing any obstacle in the progress of society. In the former case, you are directly helping society to progress. In the latter case, you are doing this indirectly. But those who are neither givers nor ‘no-problem’ people only become a burden on society. Although, according to conventional law, these people may not be criminals, in terms of the etiquette of human life, they are. Although the courts of this world will not sentence them to punishment, in the court of nature, they will be considered guilty of an enormous moral crime. (Maulana Wahiduddin Khan)
Editor-in-Chief
Kumar Dilip Edited, Printed and Published by: Monika Jain on behalf of Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation, owned by Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation Printed at: The Indian Express Limited A - 8, Sector -7, NOIDA (UP) Published at: RZ - 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam - Dabri Road, New Delhi - 110045 (India) Corporate Office: 819, Wave Silver Tower, Sector - 18, NOIDA (UP) Phone: +91-120-2970819 Email: editor@sulabhswachhbharat.com, ssbweekly@gmail.com
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hen history unfolds, the dramatis personae just keep doing what they had been ordained to do. It is only in the long run that their assessment comes through historiography. But not for the two giants of the Bengal Renaissance, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. This week sees the birth anniversary of the great reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and the passing away of another one, Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Both were reformers and educators, and their work shook society even in their lifetime. Ram Mohan Roy veered away from the then decadent Brahmanical Hindu society – considerably influenced by European liberalism and formed the Brahmo Sabha based on traditional Vedic teachings. Vidyasagar stayed within the traditional Hindu fold but was a liberal. Interestingly, both had major contributions in the field of women’s uplift. While Ram Mohan Roy blasted, and
helped bring a law against the burning of ‘satis’ or widows on the pyres of the demised husbands, Ishwar Chandra started the reform of widow remarriage, which in essence was a logical continuation of the work of Ram Mohan in stopping widows from being burnt down. The tradition of old men marrying small girls, leaving them widows at a young age meant they would have to be burnt. And if they survived that, they had the right to live in dignity in a second marriage. But apart from that, both had several other contributions. Ishwar Chandra, a polymath, was a philosopher, educator, translator and philanthropy. Ram Mohan – who learned Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin and Greek (of course, apart from English) was the first to calculate that more than two-third of the revenue generated in India was being drained off the Britain. Interestingly, for a while he functioned as a Baniya, or moneylender, loaning to British settlers who lived beyond their means.
For a while, Ram Mohan, then educated in Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic, worked as a ‘baniya’ lending money to bankrupt Europeans
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From early childhood, Ishwar Chandra’s passion for learning was so huge that he would sit under street lights to read at night The Persian and Arabic studies influenced Ram Mohan’s thinking about One God more than studies of European deism, which he didn’t know at least while writing his first scriptures as at that stage he didn’t speak or understand English. Ram Mohan Roy’s impact on modern Indian history was his revival of the pure and ethical principles of the Vedanta school of philosophy, as found in the Upanishads. He preached the unity of God, made early translations of Vedic scriptures into English, co-founded the Calcutta Unitarian Society and founded the Brahma Samaj. The Brahma Samaj played a major role in reforming and modernising Indian society. He successfully campaigned against sati, the practice of burning widows. He sought to integrate Western culture with the best features of his own country’s traditions. He established a number of schools to popularise a modern system (effectively replacing Sanskrit based education with English based education) of education in India. He promoted a rational, ethical, nonauthoritarian, this-worldly, and socialreform Hinduism. His writings also sparked interest among British and American Unitarians. While Ram Mohan was born to a fairly well to do family, with a Vaishnavite father and a Shaivite mother, Ishwar Chandra Bandyopadhyay (his original surname, Vidyasagar being a title later bestowed upon him by Thakur Ramakrishna Paramhans), came from a poor Brahmin family from rural Midnapore district. At the age of nine, Ishwar Chandra moved to join his father Thakurdas, working in the family of Bhagwat Charan in Burrabazar, Calcutta. From early childhood, he has shown a massive passion for learning. And since his father could not afford a lamp at home, the little boy would sit under a gas-lit street light at night to study. Ishwar Chandra has several anecdotes ascribed to him, some of which are doubtful. It is said that he swam across a raging Damodar river just because his mother had asked him to come home to attend his brother’s marriage. Scholars, though, dispute this as there was no river anywhere near his village. It is also said, and is probably true, that he once visited his British boss in
the latter’s office, who to spite Ishwar Chandra, put his feet on the table. Later, when the same official had to visit Ishwar Chandra in his office in the Sanskrit College, he too put his feet up on the table to pay the insult back to the ‘saheb’. Ram Mohan, though considerably influenced by European liberalism, was equally patriotic. A padre, William Carey settled in Serampore to translate the Bible into Bengali and was a proselytiser. At a point in time, Ram Mohan trained his guns at Carey to stop his conversion activity. Ram Mohan visited England in his later days to ensure that the antiSati law passed in India by the British would not be overturned in the British Parliament. In England and France, he was widely respected from reforms and his erudition, and there still exists a road and a house named after him. He died and was buried in Bristol, which has a tomb to him Ishwar Chandra’s most valued contribution, if it has to be seen in a historic perspective, was on the changes made in the Bengali language. For instance, Ram Mohan wrote extensively in Bengali, but he did not use punctuation marks, which were absent in the Bengali literature till then. It was Ishwar Chandra who modernised the Bengali script. Though things are different in today’s ultramodern, English-based education, 50 years ago, no Bengali child could get educated without turning the pages of his hugely important book, Varna Parichay (learning the alphabets). The ‘danri’ or the long stop mark was also introduced. Ishwar Chandra and Rabindranath Tagore were 30 years apart, but a considerable amount of the bard’s time was spent under the influence of Vidyasagar. While the BBC 2004 poll placed Ram Mohan at number 10 as the greatest Bengalis of all times, Vidyasagar was placed just a notch above him, at number nine. When we were small, there used to be a book on ‘Pratasmaraniya Bengali’, or great Bengalis to be recalled every morning. Both Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy featured in it. But alas, those are bygone days and today’s children rarely get any ready recall of these two giants of the Indian culture and literature. It is time that we pay our deepest respects to them.
Narendra MODI
Prime Minister of India
OpEd
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upfront
An Epitome Of Simplicity
Pandit ji presented the views of a gamut from the Vedas to Vivekananda, from Lord Krishna to Mahatma Gandhi, in a modern perspective
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alk on the path shown by the great thinker while discussing Pandit ji’s principles, ideals and different aspects of his life at length. The thought has the strength of its own and Pandit ji’s thoughts have been delivered to us in a capsule. Pt Upadhyaya was an epitome of simplicity who, in a short span and brief political life, traversed the journey of establishing a political party, an ideology and a political system, which helped the BJP to transform from being a party in the opposition to one that gave the people an alternative government. This is no mean feat, this journey was made possible by the strong organisational foundation laid by Pandit ji. Pt Deendayal Upadhyay had set an example by establishing a party that was organisation-based. The journey from the Jana Sangh to the Bharatiya Janata Party is a unique chapter in Indian history, the credit for which goes to Pandit ji. Studying the period between 1962 and 67 was crucial to understanding Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya. Even Dr Ram Manohar Lohia had recognised, that it was only because of the wide scope of Deendayal ji’s vision that parties of various ideologies could come together to offer to the nation an alternative. Pandit ji had another virtue; he insisted on building a cadre base; he built a new type of political worker that did not come from a particular political breed. Pandit ji created a cadre base where the worker had independent thoughts, was inspired by nationalism and dedicated to society. Pt Upadhyaya envisaged an army of political workers, to pave one’s way to entry into politics. Pandit ji would say, ‘We would accept anything that enhances ourselves in prestige, science and culture. We are neither averse to modernity, nor are we beholden to orthodoxy and archaic traditions.’ He said this was at the root of our thoughts, adding that the BJP comprised people who mould themselves according to the needs of the nation and society; this is why it could traverse the journey between being in opposition to being an alternative for
governance enjoying the confidence of 125 crore Indians. Pandit ji presented the views of a gamut from the Vedas to Vivekananda, from Lord Krishna to Mahatma Gandhi, in a modern perspective. Only that economics, politics and sociology can change the fortune of India that is tied to the roots of the nation, no country had been able to progress while being detached from its roots. Pandit ji emphasised capacitybuilding; he used to say that our defence forces must be competent and only then the nation can be powerful. Pandit ji believed that the economic model of the nation must be bottomup, not top-down; he believed that the poor and welfare should be at the centre of all policies of the government, and only then the country would truly grow, when those at the bottom rise, only then can those on top rise even higher. We must, therefore, give our agenda of development a direction where the poor are empowered and where a poor man himself turns a warrior against his poverty; we all must strive to attain an India free of poverty. Look at his capabilities, look at his commitment to ideals, look at the strength of his belief! Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya’s mantra of moving on with the times with the confidence of a victor and resolve of penance is still relevant; we move ahead with that mantra in mind.
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Photo Feature
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Lightning The Way To Cleanliness The illumination was the right way to make the national resolve
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Photo Feature
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International Personality
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Faxian
Peace : Buddhist Mendicant’s Mantra Faxian, usually known as Fa-hien, noted the peacefulness of India, the rarity of serious crime, and the mildness of the administration
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n Urooj Fatima
hinese Buddhist pilgrim and translator Fa-hien (AD 399 – 413) journeyed from China to India to obtain a more complete version of the Buddhist monastic rules and participated in the translation of the Sanskrit texts into Chinese. The name of this monk may correctly be pronounced as Faxian but is also written as Fa-hien. Fa-hien was the first Chinese monk to travel to India during the reign of Chandragupta II. His primary aim was to visit the Buddhist religious places and to take with him the copies of the Buddhist religious texts. He, therefore, travelled through the Gupta Empire and also wrote down his impressions about India. As his main interest was religion, nothing is known about the political condition of India from his account. At the age of sixty-five, he travelled to India, mostly on foot, from Central China taking the southern route through Shenzhen, Dunhuang, Khotan, and then over the Himalayas, to Gandhara and Peshawar. Fa-Hien was about 77 years old when he reached back home. He undertook a trip via Central Asia to India to study Buddhism, locate sutras and relics and obtain copies of Buddhist books that were unavailable in China at the time. He travelled from Xian in central China to the west overland on the southern Silk Road into Central Asia and described monasteries, monks and pagodas there. He then crossed over Himalayan passes into India and ventured as far south as Sri Lanka before sailing back to China on a route that took him through present-day Indonesia. His entire journey took 15 years. Fa-hien did not suffer any trouble during his journey from one place to another in India. The kings and the rich people had built rest-houses (Dharamshalas) where every convenience was provided to the travellers. They had also built hospitals for the poor where free medicine was distributed.
approximate number of Buddhist monks in the region, the teachings and rituals practised by them, and the Buddhist legends associated with some of these sites. Fa-hien claimed that demons and dragons were the original inhabitants of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He is said to have walked all the way from China across the icy desert and rugged mountain passes. He entered India from the northwest and reached Pataliputra. He took back with him Buddhist texts and images sacred to Buddhism. On Fa-hien’s way back to China, after a two-year stay in Ceylon, a violent storm drove his ship onto an island that was probably Java. After five months there, Fa-hien took another ship for southern China but, again, it was blown off course and they ended up landed at Laoshan in what is now the Shandong peninsula in northern China, 30 km east of the city of Qingdao. He spent the rest of his life translating and editing the scriptures he had collected. Having lost fellow pilgrims Huiying and Huiking to illness, and the surviving friend Daoching remaining in Middle India, Fa-hien travelled alone through the North, Central and East India, down to South India for nearly a decade, learning Sanskrit and transcribing manuscripts.
Momentous turn of events
‘Record of Buddhist Countries’
In 414 AD he recorded his travels in ‘Record of Buddhist Countries’, today known as the ‘Travels of FaHien’. It is an excellent geographic
account of his journey along the Silk Route and the first comprehensive eyewitness account of the history and customs of Central Asia and India. His account includes the description of local Buddhist monasteries, the
Fa-hien was the first Chinese monk to travel to India during the reign of Chandragupta II
Fa-hien collected and brought back eleven Buddhist books from his westbound pilgrimage. Among them, six Buddhist scriptures were cotranslated into Chinese by himself and the Indian Buddhabhadra. Upon his return to China, he was keen to translate these texts which he had taken so much trouble to bring back, as quickly as possible. Instead of going to Ch’angan to rejoin his former teachers and companions as he had initially intended, he went to Ch’ienkang(Nanjing), where he translated the sutras with the help of the Indian monk Buddhabhadra. Fa-hien was 79 by the time he finally made his way back to China.
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International Personality
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His Insight on India •Fa-hien noted the peacefulness of India, the rarity of serious crime, and the mildness of the administration •He found Buddhism still flourishing, but theistic Hinduism was very widespread •Fa-hien’s record shows that in place of the old sacrificial Brahminism, Hinduism has appeared •The Shudras were kept outside
In 414 AD, the year after his return to Chienkang, he wrote the record of his travels; and later, by request added certain material to make the version which we have today. In a postscript, Fa-hien says; “When I look back on what I have been through my heart begins to pound and I start to sweat. I risked all those dangers with no thought for myself, because I had a fixed purpose and - simple as I am - was singleminded. That was why I embarked upon a journey in which death seemed almost certain, and had one chance only in ten thousand of surviving.”
A devout Buddhist
Fa-hien was a pilgrim and was a devout Buddhist. He was interested only in spiritualism pertaining to his own creed and he did not bother to note down social or political conditions of the time. It is extremely surprising that he does not even mention the name of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. All that he has written about the social, economic or political conditions of the time is simply a passing remark and as such it cannot be taken to be true picture of the time. Relying upon his version, however, one can say that the people were prosperous and peace-loving. The Government was efficient and there were very mild punishments. There was no capital punishment and for crimes of rebellion. The king has been described as Rajya Rishi in one of the inscriptions and it indicates that he had saintly qualities. The system of administration was almost the same as those of the Mauryas.
Trade and Sea Voyages
Fa-hien described internal and foreign trade of India as well as its ports. According to him, both internal and external trade of India was in a progressive stage and the Indians carried on sea-voyages. According to him, India had trade relations with China, countries of south-east Asia and western Asia as well as with
the town and entered the town by making a noise with a stick •Fa-hien had made special note of free hospitals maintained by the donations of pious citizens •According to him mutual relation was cordial and peaceful among the Hindus and the Buddhists. This indicates the religious tolerance of the society.
Europe. On its western sea-coast, India had ports like Cambay, Sopara and Baroach while on its eastern coast Tamralipti was a famous port from where Fa-hien went to Sri Lanka on an Indian ship.
Studied Sanskrit
Fa-hien studied Sanskrit for 3 years at Pataliputra and two years at the Port of Tamralipti without let or hindrance. The accounts of Fa-hien give a clear indication that India was probably never governed better than the era of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. The prosperity of the Indians and tranquillity of the empire have been tested by the account of Fa-hien and his unobstructed itinerary all around gives the details about the Golden Era of India.
Clerical name
Fa-hien was his clerical name, and means “Illustrious in the Law,” or “Illustrious master of the Law.” The Shih which often precedes it is an abbreviation of the name of Buddha as Sakyamuni, “the Sakya, mighty in Love, dwelling in Seclusion and Silence,” and may be taken as equivalent to Buddhist.
Childhood of Fa-hien
Fa-hien was born in the southern Shanxi Province of China, in modern Linfen City, during the Jin dynasty (266–421 CE) that patronised Buddhism in difference to most other Chinese dynasties. He became a Buddhist monk at the age of three under the religious name Fa-hien, meaning ‘Manifest Law’. Fa-hien had three elder brothers who died young. When he was 3 years old, his father decided to let him become a novice monk for the blessings and protection of the bodhisattvas. However, he was too young to live independently in the Buddhist temple, therefore he remained at home. A few years later, Fa-hien suffered from a serious illness. His father then sent him to a Buddhist temple, in which he surprisingly recovered after two
nights. After that, he was unwilling to go home and stayed at the temple. When Fa-hien was 10 years old, his father died. Considering the great difficulty for his mother to independently support the family, his uncle advised Fa-hien to return home to the secular life, but he refused. In order to facilitate his mother visiting, Fa-hien subsequently built a small house for her outside the temple. One day, when Fa-hien, along with dozens of monks, was harvesting rice in a rice field, a group of famine victims came to steal the rice. All the monks fled except for Fa-hien. He said to the famine victims: “If you need the rice, you can take it as your pleasures. However, you should know, the reason why you are so poor and hungry today, is that you had never done any almsgiving in the past lives. If you now
still want to grab the other’s rice, you will be hopeless. I am worried about your future lives!” Then he returned to the Buddhist temple and the famine victims gave up on their theft. Hundreds of monks in the temple all admired the behaviour of Fa-hien. Later, Fa-hien entered into the sangha (taking the complete precepts of a Chinese Buddhist monk) and did his best to strictly fellow them. At this time, he often lamented the absence of Buddhist scriptures, especially on precepts (sila-vinaya), which he swore to seek out in India when he grew up. As a pioneer in the 4th century, Fahien started a new era of pilgrimage to ancient India for Buddhist scriptures. His story has promoted tourism relevant to Buddhist culture, and even now continues to strengthen friendship among Asian countries.
22
Sanitation
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
USA
FLUSH... IT! Sanitation advocates up to 1880 worked under the notion that miasmas — filth and bad odors — caused disease and sickness
SSB BUREAU
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old seats. Horrific stenches. Overflowing excrement. Could you imagine what your life would be like if you did not have modern plumbing? Most of us cannot imagine life without a toilet, but until the 1800’s, disposal of human waste was a daily struggle, and a disgusting task. A gleaming tribute to human ingenuity stands silent and ready for use at a moment’s notice. This invention is now largely ignored, or taken for granted, but it has done as much to revolutionise the health of the world as any vaccine. This marvelous invention is the flush toilet. There was nothing pleasant about the American water closet in the midnineteenth century. The water closet system in midnineteenth, with all its boasted advantages, is the worst that can generally be adopted. It introduces into the houses the most deadly enemy. Worst of all, it merely removes the bulk of our excreta from the houses to choke the rivers with foul deposits and rot at neighbours’ door. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, advances in public health, technology and sanitary engineering converged to bring into existence the modern flush- toilet as we know it today. Fears of contagion beyond the foul and deplorable communities inhabited by most of the populace and the desire to prevent the spread of epidemics coincided with middle class desires to have access to an ever increasing list
of modern conveniences, such as the water closet. By the mid 1800s, Americans of both moderate and meager means were accustomed to the unpleasant smells of neglected chamber pots and un-emptied privies. The experience of the outdoor privies was particularly dreadful for people suffering from the “debility of disease” who were “obliged to go out of doors in all weathers.” Until the arrival of the modern flush toilet in the late nineteenth century most Americans simply used a chamber pot, outhouse, or the woods to relieve themselves. WEALTH DID NOT GUARANTEE INDOOR PLUMBING Although it was somewhat common for well-to-do English householders to have an indoor toilet installed in their home as early as the late eighteenth century, this was not the case in America. Municipal water and sewer lines did not come into existence until the late nineteenth century when public water works provided the connections. Even then, only the wealthy had access to running water as municipalities generally charged for the construction of water lines. Only about five percent of the American population had running
water at the close of the Civil War. faulty system of tunnels and drains was By the late nineteenth century that a very real fear. figure increased to 24 percent. Not until the 1930s, would the entire urban THE FIRST FLUSH-WATER TOILET population have access to running Credit for the first flush-water water. In rural areas, access to running toilet goes to Sir John Harrington. water came about fifteen years later. Harrington provided a detailed As a result, installation of an indoor description of his device along with toilet was not solely dependent illustrations in his satirical work, A upon one’s social status or financial New Discourse of a Stale Subject, resources. Called The Metamorphosis of Ajax Stamford’s penned outrage (1596). Although a satirical piece, this voiced the complaints of wealthy work was informed by Harrington’s householders, along with the fears of understanding of contemporary public health officials who believed medical theories of disease causation. that illness was transmitted by In his proposed plan he presented his miasmas, disease-causing entities new privy as a devise that would protect that were released into the air from the people from sickness induced by decaying organic matter. the smells of decaying organic matter. The ‘deadly enemy’ Stamford His privy could ensure “th’ aire be referred to was not germs, but rather cleare, and free from all infection” sewer gas and its attendant with proper construction miasmas. The germ and installation of the theory of disease--the device. Harrington By the mid 1800s, idea that diseases would eventually Americans of both were spread by install some of his minute pathogensprivies in the royal moderate & meager -would not be fully palaces. Queen means were accustomed accepted until the Elizabeth I of to the unpleasant smells late nineteenth England even had century. For one installed at the of neglected chamber Stamford and his Richmond Palace. pots and un-emptied contemporaries, the Harrington’s privy privies putrid odors emanating was designed with from the water closet’s an artificial passage
Sanitation
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
23 07
PUBLICLY OWNED WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS
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fitted with a brass gate to release the contents when rinsed with water. He recommended that the device be flushed at a minimum twice a day— midday and at night. The screw that held the gate in place was positioned at the base of the vessel. The act of flushing was accomplished by manually removing the screw and sliding the gate to the open position. The technology to effectively remove the waste after it was flushed, however was largely absent. The smell from both liquid and solid human waste was an ever-present problem. In fact, the Queen’s privy, was perfumed with flowers to mask the odor that inevitably escaped from the device. Plumbing then consisted of a system of wooden tunnels below houses that dumped into an open or closed cistern-both of which ultimately had to be manually emptied. For inhabitants who resided in the buildings, this was indeed a fetid affair as overtime leakage throughout the system was certain. Almost two centuries later water closets designs were patented in 1775, 1777, and 1778 by several Englishmen, each improving upon on Harrington’s design.
TIME LINE 1833 1855–1860
Technology System
1868 1883 1890
Facility Introduction Facility
1923
Facility
he original approach to disposing of wastewater from urban homes in the United States was via cesspools or septic tanks with underground tile drains for wastewater disposal through percolation into the ground. But this often polluted the groundwater that was being used for water supply. Sewerage systems were thus introduced to remove wastewater from homes and other buildings for discharge to the nearest waterbodies. Local governments constructed sewerage lines, as well as streets, drainage systems, and infrastructure for other utilities. These sewerage systems, while sanitizing homes, also often created nuisances and health hazards in the receiving waters, as these were also being used for water supply. Comprehensive sewerage systems were being built throughout Europe and the United States in the mid-1880s. Because receiving waters often played multiple roles as sources of food, places of recreation, and sources of drinking water, treatment of wastewater before discharge was initiated in the latter years of the century. Initial treatment consisted of diverting
wastewater to farms for application to the land, where wastewater helped restore nutrients to the soil. In fact, these facilities were called “sewage farms” well into the twentieth century. With urban growth and the attendant larger volumes of water that needed to be processed, sedimentation alone was no longer sufficient, and various improvements in treatment were introduced. Chemical precipitation was introduced to enhance sedimentation, but that created problems with sludges. A major step was the introduction of biological treatment with trickling filters following sedimentation. Many other types of secondary biological treatment processes are now available, with the aim of increasing their efficiency and reducing their space and cost requirements. Activated sludge and other modern biological processes can provide up to 95 to 98 percent removal of organic matter and suspended solids and bacteria. Passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 made secondary treatment a requirement for all wastewater treatment plants in the United States.
The act of flushing was accomplished by manually removing the screw and sliding the gate to the open position Subsequent Models The first American patent for a fixed water closet was not granted until 1857. There were two earlier patents, one in 1833 and another in 1835, but these were for commodes, portable box like structures that held a chamber pot encased under the wooden seat. Several variations of the water closet were available for those that could afford it, and householders
relied on plumbers to improve upon what was now considered one of the more necessary “conveniences” of the period. Mid-nineteenth century manufactured water-closets on either side of the ocean could be divided into two types: those with mechanical parts connected to the toilet fixture, controlling flushing, and those without intrinsic mechanical
The water closet is first patented in the United States The first sewer systems in the United States are built in Chicago and Brooklyn. Sewage farms are operated in different parts of the United States. The septic tank is introduced in the United States. The first sewage treatment plant in the United States using chemical precipitation is built in Worcester, Massachusetts. The world’s first large-scale activated sludge plant is built at Jones Island, on the shore of Lake Michigan.
parts. Flushing for the latter device type was a function of supply pipe valves or high cisterns being used at the time. The pan closet, a fixture of the first type was more commonly in use, but was frowned upon by public health officials because it retained hidden waste in the lower part of the receptacle and the removable pan permitted the escape of “impure air.” Among toilets without intrinsic mechanical parts, the hopper or all earthenware washout closets did a better job of flushing contents clean. Advocates of the miasma theory preferred these as they held back sewer air by means of water retained in the trap, although not perfectly. Householders certainly would have found perfection in either type water closet to be in the form of a toilet that efficiently flushed waste and held back sewer smells. But that did not happen until the 1890s when siphonjet closets and washdown closets came into use.
24
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, blessed by Buddhist monks, and emphasised the historic nature of the visit which was the first stand alone visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka in 28 years. He recalled his fruitful state visit to India in February 2015 and reiterated his thanks and gratitude for the warmth and generosity accorded to him by the government and people of India
Signing of agreements between India and Sri Lanka during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the country, called the ‘Emerald Island’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka
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he two-day stand alone state visit to Sri Lanka on March 13-14, 2015 by an Indian Prime Minister after 28 years, saw New Delhi and Colombo taking their bilateral relationship to the The achievements gained and the bilateral relations
enhanced during my recent visit with my ministers and other delegates to
next level. Following meetings with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, Prime Minister Modi said India wanted to strengthen bilateral trade ties India, are being further
strengthened and expanded due to the arrival of the Indian Prime Minister today in Sri Lanka.
Maithripala Sirisena President of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over India-funded houses to Tamils displaced or rendered destitute due to fighting in Jaffna
between the two countries. Both sides inked four agreements on visa, customs, youth development and for building the Rabindranath Tagore memorial in Sri Lanka. Modi also conveyed that India is keen to build a Ramayana trail in Sri
Lanka and a Buddha circuit in India through mutual cooperation. He also visited the Maha Bodhi Society and interacted with Buddhist monks in Colombo. On March 13, he addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament and conveyed India’s gratitude to the people of Sri Lanka. Describing Sri Lanka as a home of skills, enterprise and extraordinary intellectual heritage, he assured Colombo of New Delhi’s full commitment toward the development of a healthy partnership between the two nations. Modi also visited the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) memorial to pay tribute to martyrs. He met Nimal Siripala de Silva, Leader of Opposition and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He held talks with leaders
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
25
Singapore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the Talaimannar-Madu Road train in north western Talaimannar town, the closest point to India
The Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Singapore, on March 29, 2015
P PM Narendra Modi in a conversation with Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka
Singalatheevukkinor paalam ameippom (We shall construct a bridge to Sri Lanka). I have come of the Tamil National Alliance and former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga. On March 14, he visited the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura and Jaffna, where he prayed before the Maha Bodhi
with the hope of building this bridge, a bridge that rests on strong pillars of our shared inheritance; of shared values and vision; of mutual support and solidarity; of friendly exchanges and productive cooperation, and above all, belief in each other and our shared destiny.
rime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singapore for a day on March 29, 2015 to attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who he described as “among the tallest leaders of our times”. He underlined India’s strong relationship
with Singapore, describing that country as a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy. Separate meetings were also held with Singapore’s Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
PM Narendra Modi in Sri Lanka Tree. He laid the foundation stone of the Jaffna Cultural Centre and flagged off a train between Talaimannar and Madhu Road. The visit was rounded off by a reception organised by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
The President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Singapore on March 29, 2015
Continue in next issue
26
Lucknow
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
TOILET
Mission School Toilet An NRI couple’s effort to teach poor children and work for the homeless Dalit and backward families S Shukla
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oved by the patriotic feelings, an NRI engineering couple from Lucknow left a cosy job and life in the US to carry out a unique mission to construct toilets in schools having no washrooms in Uttar Pradesh with their own funds without any help from the Swachch Bharat Mission or the government. Not only that, the NRI couple has also undertaken the task of teaching poor children in slum areas and working for the homeless Dalit and backward families to get them a roof under Central and government schemes. Alok Singh obtained his Master’s degree in engineering from prestigious Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru, in 1999. He married an engineering graduate Monika Singh. After working in the country’s top most companies, the couple shifted to the US in 2008 to work with a global giant making semiconductors. The couple led a luxurious life with a highly-paid job, palatial house and swanky car in the Silicon Valley of the US. There was a time when they thought to apply for the US Citizenship to settle permanently in the US. But Alok was adamant to work for the people of his country and his wife Monika was equally enthusiastic about his thought-process of serving the poor people back home. The opportunity came sooner than they expected. Moved by the Anna Andolan against corruption in 2012, the NRI couple took a decision to leave the US and return to India to become a part of the social change. “I and my wife were so moved by issues raised by Anna Hazare and the response his movement against corruption generated from the people of the country that we thought that India was undergoing a revolution which will bring a social change as envisaged by the youth of the country,” said the engineer. The NRI left the US and returned to Delhi to join the Anna movement. But they soon got disenchanted when Anna’s social revolution was mired
in politics. “We were really shocked when people high-jacked the muchneeded social change and awakening for political gains,” said Alok. Dejected over the developments, the NRI engineering couple headed back to their home in Lucknow to give shape to their dreams of helping poor children and families to join the mainstream of the society. Initially, they were discouraged by the other family members, relatives and friends but the couple ignored them all and began their new journey from well-placed engineers to social entrepreneurs. They started off from slum areas in Lucknow by taking classes of poor children who never went to school. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014 and launched Swachch Bharat Mission and several welfare schemes, including housing, power, water and financial assistance, for poor, Dalit and backward, the NRI couple created awareness among poor families living in slum areas and fought for their rights. The first success came when Alok crossed bureaucratic hurdles and
“The children who had never gone to the school now make their schools proud in studies as well as extra-curricular activities” got 300 poor families homes in a colony on the outskirts of Lucknow after arranging cheaper loans from banks. “Most of them were dailywagers. We educated them how to save few bucks from their earnings to pay up the monthly instalments. Not a single one is a bank defaulter and they are living happily in their own pucca room,” claimed Alok. After getting them a roof, the main task was to get their children admitted to schools and provide the best education so that they do not follow their parents’ petty jobs. They got them admitted in government primary school and started tuition classes in their areas to excel in studies.
Being engineers, the couple also developed a technology platform ‘Mission Bharosa’ for these poor children to make them abreast with the use of technology in education and other areas and digitized their course books for initial training in computers. “The results were encouraging and these children who had never gone to the school now make their schools proud in studies as well extracurricular activities,” shared Monika. The couple was, however, annoyed over unhygienic conditions at the schools and majority of them had no separate toilets for girls and boys. When they conducted a survey it was found that the girl students stayed away from schools because they had no toilets. They visited about 80 schools in and around Lucknow and Agra and constructed as many as 35 new toilets and renovated the existing ones. With their solo efforts, there is hardly any government primary school in Lucknow which does not have separate toilet facility for students. The NRI couple has also selected and adopted about 30 schools which are housed in dilapidated buildings and need immediate renovation. The work has started in these schools with whatever funds they saved during their stay in the US and help from well-wishers. Alok’s wife Monika herself buys the building materials, hires masons and labourers and personally supervise toilet construction in each school till it is completed and operational. “We have constructed 10 environment-friendly ‘Bio Toilets’ in Agra. After this successful operation, we are now planning to construct more Bio-Toilets in other schools to make the students sensitive towards the environment,” she said. Impressed by their passion for social work, SEWA International has approached them to sponsor their ‘Mission School Toilet Construction’ in other cities. The help is pouring in from state government as well as Swachh Bharat Mission which lauded their role in quality toilet construction in schools. The NRI couple has recently submitted a proposal to the state government to hand over these toilets constructed in schools for their maintenance. The proposal has been accepted by the Yogi government which has also invited the NRI couple to give a presentation on their future plan so that funds could be made available to them in their noble efforts.
Off-beat
Sep 24 - 30, 2018 e-Buses
BMTC Going ‘Green’ In Oct Bangalore’s transport corporation now a step closer to ambitious plan of e-buses
n G Ulaganathan
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fter months of dillydallying, the Centre has finally cleared subsidies for the city’s e-buses project, bringing the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) a step closer to its ambitious plan of plying electric buses on the city’s roads. The first phase of this transport initiative will see the introduction of 80 e-buses as early as this October. BMTC has received central approval for a corpus of Rs 74 crore, with the first instalment of Rs 14 crore released. The private operator for the fleet of 150 e-buses will be Goldstone, a Hyderabad- based company which emerged as the lowest bidder. The transport corporation was initially expected to receive Rs 1 crore as subsidy per bus from the central government under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles India (FAME India). But this was later amended to Rs 1 crore for AC buses and Rs 73 lakh for non-AC buses. “BMTC has already identified several routes, which include airport services and IT corridors. So these
are first routes which will be operated and then the service will be extended”, a senior official from BMTC says. The 12-metre-long electric buses will have 35 seats, and all the comforts of existing AC buses. They will be operated for 200 km per day and the trip will be planned accordingly. The corporation will pay Rs. 37.50 per km to the operator, which does not include the cost of power consumption. A bus operator will be appointed by the company. In the first step BMTC will be playing 60 AC bus and 20 non-AC buses in the next few days. “Finally, the BMTC is ready with their electric bus services. These buses not only help in improving the public transport but will also reduce the pollution level in the city,” says one of the commuters. BMTC will open a bus charging point in two bus depots-- HSR Layout and Electronic City --and also plans to open one at Bengaluru International Airport. A tender for new 500 electric buses will be called very soon. Every bus will have 1 battery, and the battery needs to be charged every 4 hours.
27 07
The Funny Side
Keeping Track Of Your Kids Life is weird. Thanks to tracking apps n Nury Vittachi
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never been unfaithful. He divorced her anyway. The woman, named in reports only as Mrs Zhang, admitted that something was wrong, as the boy was adorable, while her exhusband looked like the back of a hippo. DNA eventually showed that the boy was not related to either parent and a mix-up had been made at the Shanghai hospital. The report was printed recently in the Chinese media – which means that a hundred thousand parents are exclaiming: “So THAT’S why you’re so ugly and stupid, son!” Be tactful, mums and dads. But the switched-at-birth story that scores highest on the facepalm index is that of Mary Miller from This American Life, a podcast. In 1951, Mrs Miller realised that nurses
odern life is weird. Thanks to supermarket delivery tracking apps, we know the precise location of our next roll of toilet paper, but we haven’t the faintest idea where our children are. I ask mine, of course, but my teenage daughter divides the world into only two locations: “Home” and “Out”. Plan: All dads should sell their children to their wives through Amazon’s reseller programme, so they get tracking chips attached to them: “Hold still, darling, while this nice uncle inserts something under your skin.” Of course the danger is that someone else buys your children before your wife can click the “add to cart” button, but, hey, what’s life without risk? Any buyer who ends up with my brood will eventually discover they’ve made a horrendous mistake and can send them back to me (preferably after they’ve all graduated Children had given her the wrong from university). baby because it was much Yet surely it is odd should have lighter than it had been at that in today’s world, microchips birth. under-skin chips are Instead of pointing this routinely implanted into with little out, she consulted her dogs for their safety, built-in husband Norbert. I know! but not into children. speakers For a woman to ask her Which are more husband anything about important contributors babies is certifiably insane. Norbert, to family life? (Don’t answer that.) being an insensitive idiot (“a male”), Ideally, children should have couldn’t see any problem. She went microchips with little built-in into hospital pregnant, she came out speakers so that they hear Things with a baby. A baby’s a baby, right? Dads Say at regular intervals: 1) “Do Just keep it. What’s the difference? you think I’m made of money?” 2) She listened to him. But she “You’re not going out in that,” and owned up 43 years later, leaving two 3) “Ask your mother.” families furious with her. Listening to me rant, a China Microchipping kids could prevent correspondent told me about such problems, but this is the a problem in Shanghai which weird thing. It seems that modern could have been prevented by society only tracks what it considers microchipping children. important. A father in Shanghai complained I’m not sure where the kids are. about his handsome, clever son: But my toilet paper is two streets “How can someone as ugly as me away and should arrive in four have a kid like that?” he said. Good minutes. point. Still, his wife insisted she had
28
Sports
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Dattu Baban Bhokanal
From Onion Selling To Gold Medal How India’s rowing-star Dattu overcame poverty to win gold
Tridib Baparnash
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rom digging wells to selling onions to working in a petrol pump to representing India at the Rio Olympics while his mother was in a coma, India’s rowing star Dattu Baban Bhokanal has overcome every obstacle in life before winning the gold medal as part of India’s quadruple scull team at the recently-concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Hailing from Chandwad village near Nashik in Maharashtra, Dattu, the elder son of a well-digger, could hardly afford his studies after the division of his joint family. It was in that moment, when he was
Even after achieving so much, Dattu is still grounded as he had no hesitation in admitting he still doesn’t have a home of his own
still in fifth standard that he decided to join his father as a daily wage earner. Since then, he has taken a number of odd jobs to support his family, which also included his two younger brothers and an ailing mother. After the death of his father, he joined the Indian Army which started a new chapter in his life -- a chapter which brought him into the world of sports and eventually to the Asiad gold. “It was around 2004-05, I was in fifth standard when our family was divided. After that, we could not even afford two meals a day and it was then that I decided to start working with my father, who used to dig wells,” Dattu told in an interview. “But I continued my studies while doing all sorts of odd jobs which included masonry, waiter in marriage ceremonies, helper in farms, driving tractors and JCBs, transportation of goods,” he said. In 2007, he left school and started working at a petrol pump where he was for around four years till his father died in December 2011. “I used to earn around Rs 3,000
every month. Together with my dad’s earnings, we managed to make ends meet. But after his death, the financial burden fell on me as I was the sole bread earner of the family. “I left school in 2007 but rejoined in 2010. At that time I used to work at the petrol pump at night and used to go to school during the day,” he added. His real journey to the Asiad gold started after he joined the army in 2012. The 27-year-old said the decision was driven more by the need to serve his family than serving the nation.
“Three months after the death of my father, I joined the army to support my family. My mother also used to keep unwell and her health was my biggest concern. There might be lack of food in a poor family but there is no dearth of love and affection,” he said. “When I worked at the petrol pump, I used to run before leaving for school and that helped me get selected in the army. Despite all the hardships, I managed to score 52 per cent in my Class X exams. “By the end of 2012, I battled hydrophobia and started rowing under the guidance of my coach. In 2013, I was selected for the Army Rowing Node (ARN) in Pune for better training. After six months of practice, I struck two gold medals at the national championships and that was a confidence-booster,” he added. Dattu was quite candid about his craze for airplanes when he described how he used to gaze at the night sky wondering what’s inside the aircraft. “When I used to work at the pump, I slept in the nearby fields and in the night sky I could see planes flying. I always used to dream what was inside the aircraft and then came 2014 when I qualified for the Asian Games in Incheon (South Korea). “But unfortunately, things didn’t go my way and I fell unconscious, probably because of the pressure of performing at the international stage for the first time. After returning, I suffered a back injury but came back well to become Asia’s best rower from 2016 to 2018,” he added. But his biggest heartbreak came in December, 2016 when his mother met an accident and went into a coma. “But I managed to keep myself composed as I had to represent the country in the Rio Olympics,” he said. Asked about his Asiad gold in 2018, Dattu explained how he battled high fever to bring glory to the nation. “I had 106 degree fever during the gold medal winning feat during the 2018 Asian Games. But there was a motivation from inside,” he said. But even after achieving so much, Dattu is still grounded as he had no hesitation in admitting he still doesn’t have a home of his own. “Even after representing India at the highest level in global competitions like the Olympics, Asian Championship, Asian Games, I still don’t have a proper house. I still stay with my two younger brothers,” he said. Asked about his personal goals – such as getting married – the tall army man had a quick reply, “Not in the next two years... my focus is an Olympic gold.”
Entertainment
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
29 07
musical l e g e nd
‘Babu Samjho Ishare’: Unsurpassable Kishore While he has nearly 3,000 songs from 1,200 odd films, he also went to act in about 90 films
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Vikas Datta
complete entertainment package in Bollywood -- a playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, and screenwriter, he was also its biggest eccentric. And that is why while Kishore Kumar’s mellifluous, versatile voice still permeates some of Indian cinema’s biggest stars from Dev Anand to Dharmendra, and Rajesh Khanna to Amitabh Bachchan in a range of emotions, moods and situations, his own onscreen prowess is forgotten. Everyone has their own range of favourite songs from Kishore Kumar (1929-87), but if you ask about his film roles, most people might only remember “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” (1958) where he starred with his elder brothers Ashok and Anup, or his over-the-top depiction of a panchewing music ‘ustad’ in “Padosan” (1968). But there was much more to him as an actor. While he has nearly 3,000 songs (including a duet where he sings the female side in falsetto) from 1,200 odd films, he also went to act in about 90 films between 1946 and 1990. Why he is not as famous for them is that most of these came before 1970 or bombed at the box office, and why he didn’t do more is rooted in his own whimsies and eccentricities, asking his servants to ward off filmmakers, biting their hand as they paid him money, or not turning up for work. In one case, where a director obtained a decree from the court, he
only did what he was expressly told to “New Delhi” (1956) This was also another look at the do. You can imagine how that would new India, through the prism of have turned out. its wide diversity - and with some But some of his performances -contemporary resonances. Kishore doing everything from madcap antics Kumar plays Punjabi youth Anand of young romantic leads to restrained who comes to the national and sensitive essaying of more capital but is unable to complex and nuanced find lodging due characters, marked to the landlords/ him an actor as landladies’ accomplished as a The ability to propensity for playback singer. transform his somebody Let us take voice according from a look at a their own half dozen of to not just the region. He Kishore Kumar’s scene but also the impersonates roles from actor was truly a Tamilian films known but the or forgotten, incredible of problem starts successful or Kishore Kumar when he falls disappearing in love with Janki without trace. (Vyjayanthimala). “Naukari” (1954) And what happens when The Bimal Roy film was an their parents get into the act? apt depiction of the dreams of “Apna Haath Indian youth, in its first decade of Jagannath” (1960) Independence, to put their lives on Also on the same theme as an even footing by getting jobs. As “Naukri”, this goes much ahead in Rattan, who dreams of a steady job, stressing the dignity of labour with so he can put up his widowed mother Kishore Kumar playing Madan in a proper house and get his sick with a rare blend of tomfoolery, sister treated, Kishore Kumar is in sensitivity and empathy. He is a turns hopeful, distraught (where his fun-loving student on whom his appointment letter is burnt by father parents have already staked much of his girlfriend), heartbroken (as he but see their hopes dashed as he finds the promised job is gone/he is can’t get a job. The usual mixture too later for the appointment/a good of comedy, romance and pathos turn backfires), putting a masterly follow before there is a happy performance as an aspirational ending for all. everyman youth.
“Door Gagan Ki Chaaon Mein” (1964)
In his directorial debut, Kishore Kumar stars as a soldier who returns home to find that his family has been killed in a fire and the only survivor is his son (played by real-life son Amit) who has become mute due to the trauma. It is a moving tale of a fatherson bonding, along with the other staples of Bollywood and the de rigeur happy ending.
“Mr X in Bombay” (1964)
One of Indian cinema’s earliest and accomplished sci-fi as well an example of some inspired acting from everyone from hero to villain, it has Kishore as stodgy Banarasi poet Sudarshan who goes in for a western makeover after coming to Bombay and falling in love. But then all mayhem breaks lose when his love interest’s loony scientist father invents an invisibility serum, Sudarshan drinks it and a villain will go to any end to steal the secret.
“Do Dooni Char” (1968)
Little remains known about this romantic comedy, except that it was based on Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” and one of the first film-writing ventures of Gulzar, but it allows Kishore Kumar to indulge in his penchant for inspiring and quirky song, as well as sing onscreen one of his best songs “Hawaaon pe likh do, hawaoon ke naam/Hum anjan pardesion ka salaam”.
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Sulabh Parivar
Sotaro Kawakami from IBSM, Japan along with his translator Abhishek Parmar and Kei Nobuoka, a student from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and writing his graduation thesis on Sulabh International’s
achievements in ongoing Swachh Bharat Mission visited Sulabh Campus. They were taken to the Sulabh Public School where they keenly observed the vocational training students busy with their work.
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Dr Zaffar Iqbal, Health Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation and Saurav Kumar, CEO, Euler Motors visited Sulabh Campus. The visitors took interest in different unique objects starting from
Harappan Settlements of 2500 B.C. to date. Inside the Museum they saw some modern toilets including one Japanese in which push button post defecation ablution is programmed.
Moral Story
The Foolish Bear
O Dr Radhey Shyam Bandhu, Poet & Writer visited Sulabh Campus. The guest saw different branches of Sulabh Gram. The visitors took special interest in the
artefacts placed in Museum of Toilets. In a relaxed mood they enjoyed the presentation of history of the toilet development inside the Toilet Museum.
ne day, a bear felt hungry. So, he came out of his den to look for food. The bear went to the river to catch some fishes. He stood by the river and saw enough fishes to eat. He pounced on the fish, and caught it. But then, the bear thought, “This is too small fish to fill my stomach. I must catch a bigger fish.” So, he let off the small fish and waited for some time. Then again a small fish came and he let it go thinking
that the small fishes would not fill his belly. This way he caught many small fish, but let all of them go off. By sunset, the bear had not caught any big fish. He slowly began to feel tired. At the end he remained empty stomach and thought, “All those small fishes, together would have filled up my belly, but now it is too late.” He remained hungry that day. MORAL: A small fish in hand is worth a big fish in the water.’
Events
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
events & more...
ACROSS 4. The first bus service between which Indian state and Nepal was flagged off on 11th September 2018? 7. Where is the headquarters of ASEA (Association of South East Asian Nations)? 9. Where will the 2nd edition of Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Global Investors Meet 2019’, held on January 23-24, 2019? 11. Jammu and Kashmir administration launched E-Plant clinics in which district on 13th September 2018? 13. Who is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh? 15. Mehlli Gobhai passed away following a short term illness, on 13th September 2018. What was his profession? 16. NASA’s first mission capable of finding Earth size and smaller planets 17. Central Research Institute of arid horticulture is located at 19. All-powerful; possessing complete power and authority 20. Which Indian IT firm has signed a 3-year partnership with the Australian Open as its official digital innovation partner?
D-14, 2nd Floor, Above Croma Retail, South Extension 2, New Delhi 7 Oct 2018 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
SSB crossword no. 41
events
Learn How To Make Stunning Bird Sculptures Venue: Studio Pepperfry
SOLUTION of crossword no.39
Delhi Jewellery & Gem Fair Venue: Pragati Maidan Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Sat, 29 Sep - Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Planting Fresh Air - A Workshop on Indoor Air Purifying Plants Venue: The Beehive
67A, Block C, Sushant Lok Phase I, Sector 43, Gurugram, Haryana Sat, 6 Oct 10:30AM - 12:30PM
1.Vietnam
11.Odisha
2.Assam
12. Jhansi
3.Kakatiya
13.Spanish
4.Maach
14.Japan
5.Meghalaya
15.Vakataka
6.Exporters
16.Venus
7.Germany
17.Akbar
8.Calicut
18.Tripura
9.Bhangra
19.China
10.Two
20.Lithium
solution of sudoku-39
TARRAH “ART WORKSHOPS” for ADULTS and KIDS Venue: Haldiram Haldiram’s 4B/7, Tilak Nagar, Block 4B, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi Sun, 7 Oct 12:00PM - 3:00PM
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DOWN 1. Name the Chairman & MD of NTPC? 2. Iran and P5+1 talks were held in Geneva in october, 2013, In this ‘+1’ stands for 3. Which Railway Station has been entered in the Limca Book of Records for being the World’s Longest Platform? 5. Where is Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary located? 6. Who is the Foreign Secretary of India? 8. Samsung has opened world’s largest mobile experience centre in which Indian city? 10. Where is the headquarters of EXIM Bank? 12. Where is Navegaon National Park located? 14. Sardar Singh, former Indian captain, has announced his international retirement from which game? 18. Which country has replaced Saudi Arabia as India’s largest oil supplier in August 2018, according to Reuters? 17. Ruqaiya Sultan Begum was the wife of which Mughal Ruler?
sudoku-41
Farida Gupta Delhi Exhibition Venue: The Royal Park
Masjid Modh Commercial Complex Next To G.K-II Post Office New Delhi Fri, 5 Oct 10:00AM - Sun, 7 Oct 8:00PM
on the lighter side by DHIR
Please mail your solution to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712, One Lucky Winner will win Cash Prize of Rs 500/-. Look for the Solution in the Next Issue of SSB
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Newsmakers
Sep 24 - 30, 2018
Unsung Hero
Rana Uppalapati
Skating For Girls’ Education
Crowd funding
Heartbreaking Photo Raised $78,902
Rana Uppalapati to traverse golden quadrilateral to raise funds
R
ana Uppalapati battled an unforgiving sun, headwind and patchy roads to skate his way to Mumbai within a fortnight from Bengaluru. Uppalapati (37), a Visakhapatnam resident, set out from Bengaluru on September 5 to traverse the Indian golden quadrilateral on skates. Although not a professional skater, he started the journey to raise funds for the education of 25,000 underprivileged girls and spread awareness
Man Kaur
‘Miracle From Chandigarh’ This 102 Year-old Indian Athlete Will Give You Fitness Dreams
A
ge is just a number, a quote quite clearly proven by India’s oldest female athlete Man Kaur. Hailing from Patiala, Punjab, the 102-year-old athlete made the country proud by winning a gold medal at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga, Spain. Kaur won the 200 m race medal in the age group of 100 – 104. At a stage when most of us would think of giving up on life, at the age of 93, Man Kaur made her way into athletics. She was encouraged and motivated by her 78-yearold son Guru Dev, who is also a participant of the World Masters game, that is considered as an Olympics for senior citizens. In 2016 she had also set a record by becoming the world’s fastest centenarian at the American Masters Games, Vancouver.
of child safety. Uppalapati is covering 6,000 km in 90 days with hotspots in 16 cities. Explaining the reasons for choosing to fund the education of girls, Uppalapati, a business associate of Titan Industries, said, “Girls, especially in rural and tribal areas, are not sent to school. The idea is to give them an equal opportunity so they can flourish.” Uppalapati, accompanied by a team, stops at various places, interacting with people and visiting schools. The team includes members of You Too Can Run, Mumbai, which is managing Uppalapati’s health and safety. When addressing children in schools about ‘good touch and bad touch’, the team plays an animated short film, ‘Komal’, by the Childline India Foundation in the local language, depending on the State they are in. Uppalapati has a personal reason for raising this issue: he was sexually abused as a child. “I didn’t realise the enormity of the issue earlier, but then realised there are a large number of people who go through this.” Funds will be raised for non-governmental organisations ‘Nanhi Kali’ and IIMPACT.
Indians rallied around a child and his family after a photo circulated online of him crying next to his uncle’s body
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picture got viral recently on Twitter of a sevenyear-old boy crying near his uncle’s dead body. The picture and the story behind it broke peoples heart not only in India but abroad too. And once again people proved by joining hands together that ‘Humanity is above all’. Indian journalist Shiv Sunny shared the heartbreaking picture and tweeted: “The boy... held [his uncle’s] cheeks with both hands, just said ‘baba’ and began sobbing.” “The man was yet another poor labourer who died in a Delhi sewer. Family did not have money for cremating him,” the journalist added in his post, which was shared more than 15,000 times so far. Photographs of the boy crying next to the body of his uncle who died while cleaning a sewer in India prompted social media users to raise nearly $78,902 to support the family. Sunny also spoke to the grieving boy, who told him that he would sometimes accompany his uncle to work and “wait outside guarding his clothes and shoes from thieves”. “My uncle would say it still wasn’t yet time for me to enter the sewers,” Shiv Sunny quoted the boy as saying. As soon as Sunny posted the photos on Twitter, social media users began writing back to him, asking how they could help the family. He shared their bank details and, as more people, including a famous film actor, shared his post, money started trickling in. Soon, a crowdfunding campaign was launched on Ketto - a crowdfunding platform - by Rahul Verma, founder of a non-government organisation called Uday Foundation. He said the campaign has so far raised nearly $70,000 (5m rupees). Thanks to the generosity of his local community the family was able to cremate Anil’s body. Sunny told the BBC that he hoped the money raised by the nation would go some way to help support Anil’s children through school. “I just wanted to draw attention to the deaths of sewer workers,” he told the BBC. “It [the photo] told the story of the family’s plight. With people offering to help, [they] may have a future now.”
RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 41 Printed by Monika Jain, Published by Monika Jain on behalf of SULABH SANITATION MISSION FOUNDATION and Printed at The Indian Express Ltd., A-8, Sector-7, NOIDA (U.P.) and Published from RZ 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi – 110 045. Editor Monika Jain