Let's address the paani-puri in the room: Littering is not a small mistake. It’s an anti-national act. 
Yes, you read that right.
It may sound dramatic, but when you throw garbage on the road, you’re not just messing up the pavement - you’re messing up the country. Think about it:
* Litter invites diseases.
* Diseases lead to hospital bills.
* Hospital bills drain families.
* Drained families mean a drained economy.
It’s a chain reaction. One plastic bottle becomes dengue, becomes medical leave, becomes GDP loss. So next time you throw that chai cup on the street, imagine writing directly to the Finance Minister: “Dear Madam, sorry for slowing down the economy today. I just didn’t feel like walking to the dustbin.”
Patriotism beyond instagram
Every year on August 15, we flood Instagram with tricolour selfies - tricolour cake, nails, WhatsApp DPs. But what about the street outside your house? It looks like a post-celebration battlefield.
Patriotism isn’t just standing for the anthem in multiplexes. It’s standing for public spaces in real life.
The irony of Indian pride
We say, Bharat Mata Ki Jai! and then we throw chips packets on Bharat Mata’s lap.
 
Imagine how she feels. 
Garbage has no religion:
* Hindu paan stains.
* Muslim plastic bags.
* Christian Coke cans.
* Sikh samosa wrappers.
We all contribute equally to the mess. Unity in diversity? Yes. But can we unite in cleanliness?
The global embarrassment
Foreign tourists love India’s culture: the Taj Mahal, yoga, masala dosa. But they hate one thing - the garbage. “Incredible India” ads don’t show the littered railway tracks. But tourists see them.
We dream of becoming a global superpower. Let’s start by becoming a local super-cleaner.
The psychological excuse machine
“Oh, it’s just one wrapper. What difference does it make?”
That’s how 1.4 billion people think.
 
If one person litters, it’s a mistake. But if an entire nation litters, it’s a crisis.
The hidden cost of littering
Let’s calculate:
* Extra money for cleaning staff.
* More drains to unclog.
* More medical treatment for garbage-related diseases.
Where does that money come from? Your taxes. So when you litter, you’re basically sending yourself a bill.
“Dear me, here’s your punishment for not using a dustbin. Enjoy!”
Habit Hack: The “Karma Calculator”
Try this for one week. Every time you litter, put 10 rupees in a jar. At the end of the week, look at the money. That’s your personal littering tax.
Feel bad? Good. Use that money to buy a reusable bag, a pocket dustbin, or donate to a cleanliness drive.
Stop the chain reaction
 
One plastic bottle in the gutter leads to:
* Clogged drains.
* Water logging.
* Mosquito breeding.
* Dengue outbreaks.
* Government spraying pesticides.
* Taxes are spent.
* The economy suffers.
 
All because you didn’t want to carry a wrapper for five minutes.
Teach kids early
Children do what they see. If you litter, they learn to litter. If you pick up trash, they learn to respect public spaces. Forget “Baba black sheep.” Teach them, “Baba black bag, have you picked up waste?”
Closing Thought: Saafaibhakti is true Deshbhakti
Next time you feel patriotic, do this:
* Pick up a piece of trash.
* Use a dustbin.
* Stop someone gently if they litter.
 
Loving your country isn’t just about saluting the flag; it’s about keeping the ground beneath it clean.
(The author is founder – Everyone, Every Sunday, 100 meters initiative.)