Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji were expert panelists and speakers on NDTV Dettol India’s Banega Swachh India, Season 2 launch in Mumbai. The event was broadcast live from 9am to 9pm on a 12 hour telethon. The lead anchors for Their session were none other than the famous and legendary Bollywood Actor Respected Shri Amitabh Bachchanji and CEO of NDTV Shri Vikram Chandraji. They were also joined in their session by Shri Arvind Guptaji, Head of IT, Social Media, BJP, India, a dynamic leader, thinker and advocate for social entrepreneurship.
The slogan for the season was ‘Har Sapna Sach Karega India, Hum Banayenge to Zaroor Banega Swachh India!,” reminding us that by working together and taking ownership for our collective role in making a Clean India, this dream would indeed come to fruition.
Pujya Swamiji made a clarion call to action for all religious leaders and pilgrims sharing that just as Corporate Social Responsibility there must also be a Religious Social Responsibility to support the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
He also wisely said, “The time has come for meditation and sanitation to work hand in hand. In fact, until we address the crisis of 1200 children dying daily from lack of adequate WASH and nearly half of India’s population defecating in the open, sanitation must also become our meditation in action.”
When asked about His thoughts on cleaning up the banks of Mother Ganga in Varanasi, He shared that in addition to the basic facilities, such as adequate toilets, changing rooms and clean drinking water systems, there must also be green crematoriums. He shared about the Mokshda Eco-Crematorium System as an effective and innovative solution, as it utilizes 60% less wood and allows loved ones of the deceased to perform all the traditional rituals, as opposed to an electric crematorium.
Pujya Swamiji also shared that time has come that we not just put the ashes of our loved ones into Gangaji but to bring Gangajal into the ashes, which when placed inside a bio-degradable urn, mixed in with natural fertilizer and a seed could be planted to grow as lush, life-giving, oxygen-generating, green tree. In this way not only would we create a new green tradition but simultaneously abate climate change, protecting our environment, our soil and our rivers.
Shri Amitabh Bachchanji lauded this innovative green idea, proclaiming, “I never thought of that.”
Later Pujya Swamiji and Sadhviji met with Shri Amitabhji cordially inviting him to the upcoming Kumbha Mela, in Haridwar or Ujjain, and honoured him with a sacred Rudraksha plant as a symbol for the incredible Sanitation Ambassador and Green Inspiration that he is for the nation and for the world.
Amongst others eminent speakers and panelists on the 12 hour special, included famous film actresses Mrs. Jaya Bhachchan and Ms. Dia Mirza, famous singer Kailash Kher, Managing Director of Dettol-RB Shri Nitish Kapoor, Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and many, many others. Hon’ble Union Minister of Urban Development, Shri M Venkaiah Naiduji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharasthra, Shri Devendra Fadnavisji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Harish Rawatji and many other prominent leaders, corporate luminaries and heads of NGOs also shared their thoughts, pledged countless hours and support for the Swachh Bharat Mission.
