Can you guess why these religious symbols are on the wall here? The first symbol from the left is an "Om", the second, of course, is a Christian Cross, the third is an Islamic Crescent Moon, and the fourth is a swastika. If you are not able to guess the reason, look for the answer in the pic below. (You will have to click on the pic below.)
It is common for men to relieve themselves against walls, so by placing these religious symbols on the walls, they want to discourage people from doing so. New public toilets have been constructed where you pay a nominal fee to use them. Now there are fines for relieving in public.
"What is the difference between the American and Indian democracies?
In America you can kiss in public but not pee;
in India you can pee in public but not kiss."
The above comparison was seen in the Times of India when there was a controversy over Richard Gere planting a kiss on an Indian actress (Shilpa Shetty - people in the UK may recognize this name) in Mumbai during an AIDS awareness program earlier this year. It was all blown out of proportion, and a judge from Rajasthan (a Western state in India) even issued an arrest warrant for Gere!! The judge was later transferred for this.
18 comments:
Well, dunno about the effectiveness of those signs. I'm thinking that they might even be counterproductive in more than one way.
I would think the signs would only serve to give the men something to aim at. I imagine each man aims at the symbol he likes least. Might make for a good survey to see which sign is most yellow, and least respected. But, I would think the fine does deter them into using the pay toilet.
In America - if we have pay toilets, I've yet to see one.
I saw the Richard Gere news on television, he planted a moviestar kiss on that beautiful actress, and the news told of all the controversy and the arrest warrant that was going on. I'm glad the judge, was judged, and transferred.
When I read your postings and comments, it's clear to see you are highly intelligient. I appreciate the things you share, both - in your blog, and in comments left at mine. I like visiting your blog.
oh.. and, in answer to your question of: what is that thing on the second shelf from top - the one with a handle on it.
I think you are asking about the coffee bean grinder.
Very interesting writing on the wall. The differences in public peeing and kissing between our countries is comical.
The stuff I learn from other photo blogs is priceless.
What a good idea. Wonder if it would work here.
@fenix, wendy: Religion is a sensitive issue and riots break out very easily. So people would not take the risk of aiming at a symbol and being seen by someone. Although nobody would bat an eyelid if they saw a man relieving himself on the street, if they see him doing so on one of the symbols, that man would not be safe. So you don't see any unseemly marks on the wall or on the sidewalk as you see on other streets where such symbols are not displayed!! So I think it works.
@Wendy - I should have been able to guess that it is a coffee grinder but it did not occur to me.
@Mo - Does London have this problem?
INTERESTING!!! i had no idea. my indian co-worker in the u.s. once told me about "snot rocket", those walls covered with snots in india. i thought it was funny, but i'm still not sure if he was just joking. btw, you know how to read hands? that is incredible! i think you read my hand very very well!!
What a clever idea. i know from my travels in other Asian countries and Europe they also have the same problem in some areas. Maybe they should try this out too!!!
As usual a most fascinating post - something to think upon.
India is definitely a different country!!!
How different our cultures are! Wendy probably has the right of it! I love reading your blog....I learn so much from your blog and I love your comments on mine.
Amen! I've seen this done in Mumbai too and it definitely works. An Indian, if not anything else, is highly God fearing ... all 3000 of them.
You are so observant.Your comments on my blog make me think. Things I take for granted get a different perspective because of you. Thank you.
Interesting post and photo.
Thanks for visiting my NorthBayPhoto blog. To answer your question: I'm unsure of the exact model of plane but it was a fun ride.
Hi, your photos are showing such interesting views of your city, and the lifestyle there, and i find your commentaries so informative and thought provoking... thanks.
I have to ask, HDP, what or whom does the swastika represent? Very interesting post. I will be coming back to learn more.
Thanks,
Wayne
lol! Maybe that's what we should do in Jamaica to prevent people from peeing in public.
I wonder if it would work though...hmm.
@wendy -
"In America - if we have pay toilets, I've yet to see one."
There are some high tech pay toilets in the US. There are some in San Francisco which automatically clean after each use. Here is how it looks
http://www.udayton.edu/~aiche/images/pay%20toilets.jpg
Well..once these symbols fade,things will get back to where they were once.But a good idea.
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