PROPAGANDA attracts more attention towards stated element but makes the victims blind to the facts. This was on display during the recent hue and cry over the alleged pollution and the presence of faecal coliform bacterial in river Ganga. The said controversy suddenly became a widely discussed topic across the world with the propagandist Western media outlets and politically motivated elements within India doing their usual hit-job by subtly targeting the ‘Mahakumbh Mela’, the world’s largest congregation that left people from different faiths across the world amazed. In the process, however, they willfully ignored the facts.

 

Of course, irrespective of the propaganda unleashed with ill-motivation was not paid much heed to by the ordinary Indians. Still, the matter underlines the need why the facts must be put straight. And, here, the facts do not mean only citing ‘Padma Shri’ awardee scientist Dr Ajay Sonkar’s study that the holy river Ganga killed germs 50 times faster because it contained 1,100 types of bacteriophages that selectively destroyed bacteria and purified the water naturally. The facts, here, also do not mean Dr Sonkar stating on the basis of research that Ganga’s temperature below 20 degrees Celsius made it unsuitable for ‘E coli’ or faecal coliform bacterial to grow. Irrespective of scientific findings, faithfuls in India knew these things as part of ancient wisdom passed on from one generation to another.

 

That is why, people have been congregating for the ‘Mahakumbh Mela’ since time immemorial and considering Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu, and Cauvery as seven sacred rivers because of their natural purifying ability. But, the facts mean attracting attention towards the state of world’s rivers. For instance, the famous river Thames (once derided as ‘dirty Thames’) in London (United Kingdom) is still dubbed by many as an open dump. Studies have pointed out ‘extraordinarily high’ gene count of Norovirus in the river at least 3,900 times (!) higher than what could make a human ill. The ‘rising levels’ of ‘E coli’ in Thames water have often interrupted rowing programmes. Another study found that half of the drinking water in the US was contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’. A news report last year had found that ‘E coli’ and Cyanobacteria were causing ‘widespread beach closures at lakes and rivers’ in the US. People may not have forgotten a report ahead of the start of the Olympic games that the river Seine in Paris (France) was found ‘not safe’ for swimming on most days due to high levels of ‘E coli’ bacteria. Of course, these are just a few facts highlighting the state of rivers and water-bodies in so-called developed countries viz. the US, the UK, and France.

 

The reports available cite ‘climate-change fueled warmer waters and more prolific downpours’, ‘waste from livestock’, ‘waste from wildlife’, ‘stormwater runoff’, ‘high percent of septic systems’ etc as the ‘E coli’ sources. The moot question is when these countries are struggling to maintain their own rivers in good health and without pollution or contamination (including presence of faecal coliform bacteria), why are these facts not spoken about so widely across the world? These countries have failed miserably in containing the presence of ‘E coli’ bacteria for decades now. Despite having much-publicised clean roads and swanky malls, these countries have not been able to have clean rivers. Another moot question is: Why do not they consider the natural reasons that exist in their countries applicable in case of holy rivers in India too? The answer to both the moot questions is simple: They are more interested in using pollution or contamination or presence of faecal coliform bacteria to target the Hindu faith. Everywhere else in the world, rivers are considered a ‘resource’.

 

In India, rivers are considered sacred, living presences, deities. Many of those peddling narratives of pollution in the holy river Ganga or at the sacred Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj that hosted the world’s biggest congregation of the faithfuls, are actually trying to use river pollution as a ploy to target the Hindu faith. Of course, none of them will admit this. But, none of them will question why developed countries sermonise India when they have rivers that are still polluted. Had there been a genuine concern over river pollution, no country in the world would have discharged sewage into the water bodies. Against this backdrop, saner-thinking individuals must look at the problem from a different dimension instead of linking it to faith and maligning the image of intrinsic Indian festivals or traditions that bring together crores of people periodically.

 

There is no need to fall prey to the festival-shaming or deculturisation tactics originating in suspect corners of the world. Also, there is no need to harbour any feeling of inferiority about Indian roots and identity. But, in the instant case, one must look at the larger issue of pollution of water-bodies the world over. Unless this issue is delinked from politically motivated and faith-targeting narratives, the global community cannot come together to deal efficiently with this problem haunting humanity. Once this vision is developed, what emerges is the picture of collective apathy towards rivers and water-bodies as well as understanding of the natural causes that may deteriorate water quality. That understanding may become starting point of responsible behaviour towards water-bodies. Then, may it be Ganga or Thames or Seine or Minnesota, any observation about pollution or contamination will not be used to target a particular faith or tradition. Then, the concern will be purely in favour of humanity as a whole.