Cleanliness Drive

Heated debate on Arora's Cleanliness Drive

Inspired by prime minister Modi’s Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign, Srichand Arora today initiated a cleanliness drive for our immediate surroundings. “Why not start with the Garden?” he suggested. “Let us get brooms from home and sweep the Garden clean of all litter. For how long should we be dependent on others to clean up for us?”
The response was electrifying. From instant wails of severe backache and arthritis to dust allergy and being out of practice, everyone seemed to have a ready excuse to avoid lifting the broom. “I don’t mind picking up things from the ground, but I cannot sweep the Garden,” pleaded Khatoon Baig, echoing the sentiments of a majority of the ladies.
“Why make a show of coming to the Garden wielding a broom?” a male member remarked cheekily. “At home we will not be caught dead with a broom in hand. We leave all the cleaning work to our maids. First clean up your own homes yourselves and then come with brooms to the Garden. Charity begins at home!”

Prasad from the puja/ last rites of Moti's wife

But there were also some voices of reason. “Unless we set an example by cleaning up ourselves how can we expect others to do so?” Geeta Sardana explained. “Otherwise the Garden shall continue to remain littered and nobody will ever be bothered about cleaning up. This way at least we shall be making other people conscious about keeping the place clean.”
Dilip Babani could not find too much dirt and suggested we wait till perhaps, Diwali when the Garden would inevitably become properly dirty. “No-no-no,” Monthi Serrao intervened. “If we have to do it, we should do it now, this Saturday.” “But don’t we require time to practice?” Khatoon complained. “We need a rehearsal or else, we’ll all fall ill.”
Soon questions arose on how we are to go about the exercise. Should we all set out as a group with brooms, as they do on TV, sweeping the same place together? Or should someone sweep one stretch, hand over the broom to another person to clear the next stretch and so on… like a relay? Or should areas in the Garden be demarcated and each section entrusted to one person to be swept clean? A trophy could even be given to the best sweeper, Monthi suggested.
It goes without saying that hardly anyone will turn up at the Garden on Saturday.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Before taking up the cleanliness campaign, please ensure that it will be a dedicated and permanent activity. We have to be committed towards cleaning the Garden every Saturday. It should not turn out to be a symbolic one-time show.