New Delhi: ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, the cleanliness drive launched on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2014, must be taken as a “social movement” for a clean and hygienic India is “healthier and happier,” Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna said on Monday (October 2). Justice Khanna was speaking at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association to celebrate the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in the apex court’s premises. He said,
We launched the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ on Gandhiji’s birthday. It is a social movement and it has to be taken as a social movement. Unless it is taken as a social movement it will not be able to achieve its aims and objectives.
Drawing a big applause from the audience, justice Khanna added,
Clean and hygienic India is healthier and happier.
He said some people become immortal by their words and deeds and underlined the various facets of Gandhi’s philosophy, including non-violence, satyagraha, fasting for social and communal harmony, ill will towards none, and simplicity in life.
Justice Khanna said Mahatma Gandhi was revered across the world and the true tribute for the father of the nation was to imbibe his words and put his thoughts into action. He said,
As he once said, carefully watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they become your habits. Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny.
He cited two other quotations of Mahatma Gandhi and said they are especially relevant for the judiciary. Quoting Gandhiji, the judge said,
Facts mean truth, and once we adhere to truth, the law comes to our aid naturally.
Referring to the contributions of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the apex court judge said he was “a true Gandhian” who lived by his words and thoughts.
Justice Khanna highlighted the difficult circumstances when Shastri became the second prime minister of the country.
Shastri remained honest and humble while having selfless devotion to the country, he said.
Several bar leaders including SCBA Secretary Rohit Pandey and lawyers were present at the function.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoilets are used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
