I entered the narrow alley with my hand already reaching for the handkerchief. I was expecting the sullen smell of the filth to hit me anytime. Lo and behold! There was no trace of garbage. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I rubbed them twice just to be sure I was not dreaming and was in the same alley that used to nauseate yours truly at times.

Only a week before, a sickening smell wafted up the heaps of garbage covering almost half of the already narrow alleyway. The sudden turn of events was a mini-miracle. But who was responsible for cleaning it up? Only God knows. But whoever he/she was, hats off. Though late, commonsense had finally dawned on someone.

What hadn’t the municipal authorities (and/or the locals) done to keep people from littering! There were warnings on the wall that read: “No rubbish here!” “Penalty of Rs. 5,000 or more for the offender!” “Whoever litters this place is a donkey’s son!” Sure enough, no one cared two hoots about these trifles. Weeks passed, seasons changed but not the waste-clogged alley!

So what was it that had finally convinced the hoi polloi to renounce their filthy habit? An intervention from the Almighty himself, literally! Someone had come up with the ingenious idea of pasting pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses on the spot that were being used to dump litter. The rest, He took care of. What the threat of fines and punishment couldn’t do, piety did. Thanks to the divine intervention, I no longer have to dig for my hankie every time I enter the galli.

Yet the bitter truth remains. Those used to throwing their garbage wherever and whenever they please will hardly be persuaded by religious piety to give up their horrendous habit. I am sure they will find another spot to dump their waste pretty soon. Dumping site will change, not habit.

Social change seldom comes about through individual effort. It’s collective initiatives that make the difference. As British essayist Arthur Koestler once said, “Two half-truths do not make a truth, and two half-cultures do not make a culture,” small initiatives here and there will amount to nothing unless each member of the society realises his role in helping preserve — or destroy — his society and culture.