This article is based on social morality. Social morality is universal and rarely changes with time and place. Social Morality is based on rationality. As human being we have rational thinking minds and know what is right or what is wrong. Sometimes we tend to ignore the rationality for our short term comfort and it becomes a social practice. Same is the case with littering. No body in his right mind would say littering is good but when we go outside in public places we can see people littering here and there without even thinking once.
This article might be harsh to those who litter.
But Why do People Litter?
“Every action is backed by a thought process but sometimes people tend to do things when they don’t think at all. It is genuine to their character or you could say their default settings. When our actions are not backed by rational thinking we tend to borrow actions of others unconsciously and assume their action are backed by rational thinking. For example: When you see litter/garbage in public place then its easy for you to throw your garbage at same place.”
I see such kind of phenomenon when I travel with Indian trains. People buy groundnut on Indian trains as eating groundnuts and gossiping is national practice. Principals of Social Morality says that we should not throw the groundnut shell on the floor of train but what happens is reverse. You can see Groundnut shells, food packages, and bottles on the floor of the train, most of the people travelling on train throw plastic outside the window or litter the floor of the train, including those who don’t do such things on metro stations or airports. This has become a practice to litter on trains and people don’t think much, they see other people doing it and do the same.
Public authorities then put fines on such practices. Do we need such system of fine for such a basic thing? The level of littering shows the level of ill mannered people living in this country. We turn angry when foreigners call us Indians unhygienic but is there any reason to be angry? are we not unhygienic? we litter in public places so easily that we don’t even give it a thought. In a well mannered society its not normal. we must feel shame when others calls us unhygienic as our doings have put our nation to shame internationally.
On my way from Haldwani to Nainital I see cars stopping by dhabas and buy packaged food and drinks. While driving, they eat, they drink and then they throw packaging outside. That packaging will remain there forever as they did their part by turning this beautiful hill station into garbage. Their 2-3 days trip has contributed to dirty roads.
How can we change this?
Be the change you want to see in this world
Mahatama Gandhi
Littering is a social practice, Most of the time we do not need any financial aid to change evil social practices. all we need is to enlighten the rationality of the mass in order to bring a change. This article is such a step to bring positive change in people.
once Mahatma Gandhi during his discourse with his followers, said, if you want to see a positive change in the world, you must yourself bring upon a change in you too. When I travel in public buses/ train I restrain myself in throwing stuffs outside I keep the packaging and other waste in my pocket or carry bag and dispose the waste in a garbage box. I also ask people not to throw stuff outside on the roads.
Even if I stop a single person littering in public I consider my day a success. My this act will change the life of that person forever. so, if you have this zeal in you and want a clean society you must start by changing your own bad habits. Try to enlighten yourself and think before you do any harm to this beautiful earth. Later comes the part where you can ask people not to litter in public places. Be the change you want to see in the world.
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