“So long as you do not take the broom and the bucket in your hands, you-cannot make your towns and cities clean.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Last week after a lot of persuasions, Jaimit shared about an act of kindness he did last year around Diwali. After a full day of work, he was on his way for a bible reading session. He felt the urge to use the washroom and started looking for one. He found a public toilet and just before entering the premise he saw a man urinating and carelessly spoiling the walls which had a slogan on it saying “Swatch Bharat” (Clean India). He felt disturbed looking at the irony and apathy that citizen’s show for public spaces. With that sentiment, he went inside the public toilet and found it difficult to use because of the filth. He almost had to run outside for fresh air as he felt choked with the foul smell.

He started contemplating on who was responsible for this, the man who spoilt the walls due to the unhygienic and unclean toilets or the government who made an effort to build toilets and provide basic facilities? After some introspection, he came to the conclusion that it was WE who were responsible for maintaining any public property.

He shared how a few months ago he was so inspired after hearing stories of Ishwar dada and Jayesh bhai and their invaluable work in the field of sanitation. He too experienced how outer sanitation was connected with inner sanitation while cleaning few corners in Sughad on the hands day. And so, he decided to clean that PUBLIC TOILET.



He shared this idea with one of his colleague, Raju bhai, who was part of the housekeeping team in his office. Raju bhai willingly agreed to join Jaimit. Jaimit felt something higher up was supporting his intention. Shopping of brooms, mops, wipes, toilet cleaners, fresheners, phenyl, disinfectants, gloves, buckets, mugs…..Yes! all was done.



Early morning they reached the spot and started cleaning with a minute of silence. Jaimit shared that how he had never done something like this before so he observed Raju bhai for a while. He decided to start with the dirtiest corner as he did not want Raju bhai to clean them. He said, “each time I was rubbing and cleaning all the dirt outside I felt my inner-self getting cleaned. My soul, my mind, my heart, all felt lighter and peaceful.”



Then an interesting conversation happened between the watchman and him. This watchman approached them after seeing them clean the toilets and with all astonishment asked, “kyu kar rahe ho ye saab” (why are you doing this sir??). Jaimit while continuing to clean the toilets very gently said, “Bas bhaiya aese hi” (Just like that). This answer surely did not convince the watchman. The watchman again asked that people don’t do such things just for the sake of it there will be some reason what is it? Jaimit said, “the way we clean our homes during Diwali, we are just cleaning this as part of the festival.” He got even more confused and after some time came back and said that this is not your job but then also you are doing it, what will you get at the end? Jaimit smilingly said, "I am already receiving so much of satisfaction doing it and that is it." The watchman was so moved that he offered help and joined the gang. For more than three hours they meticulously cleaned both the ladies and gents toilets. When they were leaving, they put some cleaning stuff for the cleaners.

While sharing gratitude to all the ones who joined in for this noble cause Jaimit ended with a prayer, vaishnavjaan toh tene re kaheyeh je peed paraye jane re, (which means the poet calls those people Vaishnavas who feel the pain of others, help those who are in misery but never let self-conceit enter their mind). He said how he had heard and sung this prayer so many times in the past, but for the first time, he was able to draw a deeper meaning out of it.

At the end when Jaimit offered some money to Raju bhai which he denied and said how could he take anything when Jaimit was offering so selflessly. It is an opportunity to witness Jaimit whose presence, actions and intentions always leave the space much cleaner than before.