The idea of Swachhata Abhiyan mooted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is as commendable as the selection of the day for its launch on 2nd Oct, the Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation. Mahatma Gandhi himself practiced and preached lessons of cleanliness. There could be no better tribute -Shradhanjali to that great personality recognised the world over for his principles of truth, simplicity, honesty of purpose and Ahimsa-the non-violence. When we sum- up the great Mahatma, it goes much beyond the mere physical cleanliness of persona and surroundings; although the first step is small and simple for any big destination to achieve. One day’s of effort and India will be cleaner than yesterday-with days to follow and dedication to purpose maintained with gusto; we may get over the ill-repute of a countryside full of dirt and filth.
Gandhiyan vision of cleanliness oozes out of his Experiments with Truth. We have to keep our surroundings clean, to stay clean. We need to stay clean to make room for a clean mind, free from falsehood, dishonesty, deceit and violence. It is in a clean body with clean thinking that a clean Atma the soul dwells. That in turn makes souls great and saints, sages emerge out of ordinary mortal beings-They are called Maha-Atma. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is known as Mahatma.
In our context after the lashing rain wash, a lot of dirt and filth has come out on streets of the Kashmir Valley-once known as heaven on earth for its pure water streams, unpolluted air, Sufi culture, simple non-violent population of Muni Kashyap’s era and thereafter—which has become stinking hell. The land was with abundance of flowers, fruits, saffron and herbs; land of beauty, in nature reflected in every face-men, women and child. Har Chehra Yahan Chand, Har Zarra Nazara.
It needs cleaning of the homes, streets and the countryside. It needs cleaning of minds that spill venom, obstruct and paralise life; of criminals that drive innocent adolescents away from schools, replace toys and books with stones, bombs and guns. It needs cleansing of murderers and Hawala racketeers, anti-people, anti social and anti-national elements. Will the State Government re-activating police after debacle, be able to do so?
