I always considered myself to be the proud
owner of a strong will power and the courage to speak up against wrong. But the
reality is when relationship, convenience, love, compassion are at stake, this
power often takes a back seat. However incorrect and selfish it may sound, but
it actually does at times.
I am a happy go lucky person, and usually gel
well with people around me. But being a working woman I barely get time to
socialise with my neighbours. Recently I discovered that a girl, almost my age,
travels to office at almost the same time I do, and the good news is she is my
next door neighbour. I really found it amusingly strange; we actually do not
know the people who are separated from us by just a wall.
It started from a regular “Hi, Hello!” in the
lifts, to long chats in the auto rickshaw, as we travelled to the bus stand to
catch our respective office buses. Gradually it became ritualistic for us to
travel together and talk our hearts out. Niti (is her name) stayed with her in
laws, while her husband was mostly away on office tours. She almost everyday
praised her mother in law for her co-operation, and declared she was the best
of her kind. The praises got into my head and I eventually developed a strong
respect for that lady. Recently I was not well and took a few days leave from
office, and that is the time when I noticed this respectable aunty and her
deeds.
I personally disliked people who litter, and
made it a point, never to do so. However honestly I never took a step to stop
people who did. Recently with the Swach
Bharat campaign started by our Honourable Prime Minister, the zeal to stop
one and others from shitting around has increased in me like many others. It is
high time to start loving your country like the way you love your little home.
Honouable Prime Minister Launches "Swach Bharat" Drive
During my few leisure days at home, I noticed
that Niti’s mother in law did not maintain any proper dustbin. She gave a
packet to the guy who came to collect waste. But through out the whole day, she
would put packets at her doorstep with all sorts waste in them, resulting in a
fowl odour in the corridor. And she would fight with the sweeper for not taking
the wastes away, and the sweeper would timidly make unsuccessful attempts to
convey to her, that they collected waste only once a day. She was determined to
keep her household spick and span, and gave a damn to hygiene and cleanliness
of the common corridor area. She also had the habit of throwing things in the
garden area from her balcony, creating slip hazard to the kids who play and the
cleanliness as if she cared!
I decided to discuss the matter with Niti, but
to my utter surprise she already knew about it. She bluntly pointed out that
the housekeeping staff is responsible for the cleanliness of the corridor and
garden, as much as we are for our respective houses. When asked about the risk
of the kids getting hurt she playfully avoided confrontation. Days passed and I
continued to behave normally with my responsible neighbours fearing some bitter
situation.
One day when I was returning home after a
hectic day at office, I actually saw a kid loose control of his bicycle on a
waste and fall. It was too much for me to take, who cared of relationship with
unsympathetic, illogical and irresponsible neighbours, it was time to give them
back.
I rang the door bell at Niti’s place, and Niti
opened the door with a smile. I smile did shake me off my purpose for second
but I revived soon. I made a poker face and sternly said that I wanted to talk
to her mother in law for a while. Taken aback by my look Niti called her, and when
she was about to greet me with a loving fake smile, I started!
“Aunty today I saw a kid loose control of his
bicycle on a waste and fall, thankfully he was not too hurt. I am sorry to say
but I have seen you throw waste to the garden from your balcony. I suppose who
would stop doing this when your grandchildren are playing there too. Besides I
want to make you aware that there are 500 families in our housing complex and it’s
definitely not possible for the sweeper to collect wastes from your doorstep
every now and then. It’s unhygienic for all the people staying here to be
exposed to your household waste. Besides you do not have the right to dirty the
place which is common to all.
As I see, you have a beautiful apartment which
is so clean, when will you start treating this complex and this country as your
home too?” I said and started walking to
the door immediately without giving them time to react.
Niti and I are no longer friends but I am happy
that her mother in law is a more responsible citizen of India
When I came across the topic of “Power of voice to clean India through AbMontuBolega” by Strepsils (#AbMontuBolega) in Indivine, I thought it was very relevant to
my experience. I would also like to congratulate Strepsils for this unique and
thought provoking campaign. For the people who are unaware. “Ab Montu Bolega” is a wonderful way
towards encouraging people to take a step towards raising their voice, against
what they think is wrong or unethical. Because being silent does not help, it
is time to clear your throat and raise a voice. In fact this campaign is a
wonderful tool for the “Swach Bharat”
drive. Afterall being aware yourself is not enough, it’s important to take part
in spreading the awareness of the importance of cleanliness, of not only your
household but your country as a whole.
#AbMontuBolega
For more details visit their website http://www.abmontubolega.com/, you can also follow the campaign through
facebook (Facebook page) and twitter (Twitter page).
Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta
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