Who should clean your toilet?

Social scientists believe that all the ills Indians suffer is due to our caste system. Perhaps they are right or perhaps not. Because if that were so who is responsible for good things in the society then? Most leaders and professionals are high caste. Ninty percent prime ministers and top leaders are high caste. I happened to be in Kerala – socially most advanced and leftiest state – when the national executive council of the Communist Party of India was meeting there. I noticed that all the EC members in the CPM were high caste and no woman and no minority was represented – except one old Sikh gentleman who was for 30 years Secretary General of the party.

During my academic career I visited several professional and scientific institutions in the country. I noticed that most top posts were occupied by Brahmans, and in the secret establishments – DRDO, DAE., and Space – at the top decision making positions, were mostly the South Indian brahmans.

In the 1980s, however, one striking exception appeared - like a beauty spot on a beautiful face of Mother India – APJ Abdul Kalam. So, the caste is our historical and cultural legacy which now appear out of date with post-modern development in scientific knowledge and technological advancement.

In the famous Chandani Chowk of old Delhi, I noticed a board “Sharma shoe shop”. “How come Sharmaji making shoes”? “No, no, it is all done by machines. I don’t make them, I only sell them.” Proudly confirmed the shop keeper.

I had told my sons that I was responsible for their well-being only upto the age 18, thereafter they were free to decide - work and study or no –study – as they wish. Our son Abhay went to England, and got a job in a shoe shop – selling the shoes. Two years later his younger brother Sanjay – handed me his post-office passbook, “Dad, I have saved up enough to pay for my air-ticket” and went to England, and worked in the same shoe shop- selling the shoes. Both were grandsons of a scholarly Sanskrit pandit.

The first time I received an invitation from an American university its accompanying document clearly stated “The Federal laws require that the recipient of this travel grant must undertake the journey in the US national carriers.” So being a patriot when I was flying with my family to abroad, I chose our national career Air India. It was full of my countrymen. After some time, I went to ease myself. The toilet was in a very dirty and wet. Though in the big letters was written “ Please leave the WC clean after use, as you wish to find it clean.”

In foreign Air lines I had not faced such a dirty toilet and routenly now and then, air hostesses clean the WCs. I came out and went over to our beautifully saree clad slim and smart attractive 5.8’ young air-hostess. She was as if ready to go for a beauty pagent – how dare I could ask her for help. Still, I dared: “Ms. that WC needs cleaning”. “That is not my job..” “Oh, sorry, but the passengers can get sick…you give me some paper towels I would clean it, young lady”. I pleaded realizing the seriousness of the situation flying at the 35,000’ up in the heavens where the air hostess is the mai-bap for all the passenger’s well-being. Obviously the young girl had secured the well-paid job in the modern technical enterprise with her high family connections. But she could not free herself from the cultural bag. Ours still is a pre-dominantly agro-cultural society.

In our village there was no running water, no electricity, but we had a small well inside the courtyard. Of course, for toilet we went out in the fields. Oh, what a clean and environment friendly was that living of my childhood. I used to threw a bucket in the well and pull the rope – fetch the cool bucket full of fresh water from the well- down inside 15 feet – and standing on the wall of the well threw the entire bucket on my head. That’s how I took bath and washed myself – not just one bucket –5 or 6 – depending how cold or hot the weather was and how late I wanted to go to school. So, when I read the notice above the WC wash-basin, inside the most advanced flying machine – “Please leave this WC as clean as you wish to find it clean” I could not fathom the meaning of such a silly instruction. Wasn’ t it against my caste and culture? Have’nt I paid for using this toilet during the journey? Why can’t they invent an automatic -cleaning system that cleans the air and water of the entire WC after you have left that heavenly post? Some years later, a Japanese editor friend was visiting us. We went to meet some Kashmiris “freedom fighters” trained and armed by our very friendly neighbour’s dare devil forces who after the 9/11, were internationally termed terrorists. We were in a hotel in Srinagar. As I am used to wake up early, I enjoyed the use of the WC before my room mate. One day, as I came out, my Japenese friend rushed in and rushed out shouting and yet trying to control himself. “ Dhire-san (ji), what is this..I cannot stand it…”

I thought perhaps I forgot to flush the toilet. “I said, sorry, and rushed in to see if I forgot to flush the toilet. I had flushed it. I came out and dragged him in : “what is the matter Tashiro, see the toilet is flushed..”

But my Japanese friend raising his pointer towards the wall and wash-basin: “see what is this”. Entire area – the mirror and the basin was full of soppy water flashed all over.. That day I realized how much my wife must have suffered my cultural handicap.
Because it is she in our family who cleans the toilet and the bathroom. And I realized why was she always saying something when I come out of the bathroom.

In our old days, the toilet system was still in its infancy. By the end of the 20th century an automatic toilet cleaning system was installed in the center of London. You used the toilet, and sas you flush and come out automatically the system washing off the entire area, cleans the air, and with warm air dries us the seat making it comfortable for the next occupant. So, the use of scientific knowledge and technology can overcome problems and conflicts created by caste and cultural inhibitions.