N matter who we are, where we live and how old we happen to be or what we do for living, a daily visit to the bathroom, restroom, washroom, comfort room or whatever else one may wish to call it, is a must for as long as we live. To relieve ourselves, almost on daily basis, happens to be biologic necessity, much like eating food and drinking water. Therefore, having a separate space for such an activity is imperative.
Even if one has such a place at home, one may still not be in a position to use it all the times for one is not always confined to the house for the entire period of the day. Other activities such as going to work and performances of various chores always create situations where one has to leave the home.
Call of Nature
Obviously a visit to the restroom, any time of the day whenever a need may arise whether at home or outside, can not be avoided entirely. In fact that is why a visit to bathroom has often been designated as 'A Call of the Nature'.
The word 'Washroom' is considered to denote a public, commercial or industrial hygienic facility meant for large numbers of people where as 'Bathroom' primarily refers to a small residential facility, oftentimes for only one person at a time.
The word 'Washroom' though originated in US, has become fairly common in Canada whereas in America 'Bathroom or Restroom' is more prevalent. Further more, of the two designations in the US, more people seem to prefer word Restroom over Bathroom simply because it may not always have a bathtub in it (Information from Wikipedia).
In addition, an underlying desire of being alone and in restful mode during such times might also have supported the label of Restroom over Bathroom.
British Washroom
It is also interesting to note that the speakers of British English often avoid calling them Restrooms. They hygienically find it difficult to take rest at such places and thus prefer the word 'Washroom' even though such a room may have only hand washing facility and not a full-body washtub.
In Britain and other English speaking countries such as Australia and Hong Kong word 'Public Toilet' is more prevalent. In Southeast Asia, Africa Middle East and rest of the world, one comes across Comfort Room. The word 'WC' implying 'Water Closet' is sometimes noted on the doors of the many European Washrooms.
It will be also worth adding that it was an American architect Frank Lloyd Wright who "invented the hung wall for the W.C. (easier to clean under)" when he designed the Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, New York. (Information from Wikipedia)
Most people in India reside in villages. Not all of them are lucky enough to even have just plain designated spaces in their houses. A simple plain living just to the level of mere existence takes precedence over having elaborate bathrooms.
Running water
To have running water, flush or toilets are luxuries that such residents could ill afford. On the other hand, many residents of the cities, even if they have such facilities in their houses, culturally seem not to provide a tender loving care that such spaces truly deserve.
The floor is often wet with puddles of urine and excreta and often are not inviting. The lack of running water makes the entire space dirty and foul-smelling. The mosquitoes and flies, the uninvited guests are often seen in plenty all the time.
The Washrooms in the public places are even dirtier, full of repulsive smell, unkempt, and very unhygienic.
In the Eastern culture, a lack of due credence or fair degree of attention to Washrooms or Restrooms may well be due to several reasons. While the affordability and availability of the resources is important, maintenance of such places in tip-top shape still happens to be the last one on their agenda of even those who could afford it.
Below dignity
The reason for lack of such care may well be due to the fact that such cleaning jobs are often considered below their dignity among the people of India. No person worth the name within Indian culture ever feels comfortable with this kind of work and rather leaves it for the lowest of low in Indian society.
A lack of awareness about the role of such dirty bathrooms and washrooms in the spread of infectious diseases often leads to death and destruction among the poor masses of India, yet it is often not talked about as often as it should.
The mosquitoes and flies, carriers of Malaria, Dengue fever, Infective Hepatitis, Typhoid and Cholera use such places as their breeding grounds, where bacteria and viruses-laden human excreta and standing puddles of urine are present in plenty. The bacteria, viruses and parasites from such places then get attached to the wings of flies and mosquitoes.
In turn they are taken over and deposited to the items of foods lying uncovered. When such an infected or tainted food, earlier visited by bacteria or virus-laden insects, is inadvertently ingested by human beings, the illness naturally follows.
Therefore, the origins of such infective maladies, prevalent in countries like India and other nations of the East, in part, could easily be traced to the untidy and dirty bath rooms.
Sense of awareness
The exposure to Western culture brings a heightened sense of awareness about the significance of maintaining cleanliness of such spaces among the majority of the immigrants from the East. In the majority of the Western households, the bathrooms or the restrooms are given due share of attention that they deserve when it comes to keeping them neat and clean.
From early childhood, the people are fairly aware that such places are not only meant for easing themselves but also to provide comfort and rest for a few moments during full days of activities. They are also made aware that bathrooms and restrooms could easily turn into sources of misery-laden illnesses causing havoc with lives, should they not be kept hygienically clean.
Shining dry floors meticulously cleaned and well covered toilet bowls with running water, walls decorated with soft wall hangings are common in most of the Western households. The repulsive smell is kept away with the help of exhaust fans and easily available fragrant sprays. In fact in the schemes of things, the bathrooms or washrooms are considered equally important.
Standard of living
One may comment here that all this happens because the standard of living in the West is high enough and the people are in a position to afford such luxuries. Certainly, this fact is indisputable. But what also needs to be kept in mind that suffering with life threatening illnesses and losing life is definitely not worth the additional effort or expenditure.
If majority of middle class Indians about whom these comments are directed could afford all the other modern day luxuries i.e. TVs, stereos, motor vehicles, cell phones and what not, then bathroom cleanliness should not be a big issue.
Moreover if one has the resources to affix those expensive religious insignias and quotes on the entry doors of the houses; it may be equally well-worth spending time and money on the essential care of the bathroom facilities.
Wasting money on front door decorations that serve only to heighten the ego of the owners without opening extra doors to the heaven, indeed provides no true added benefit in preventing infectious illnesses.
Nothing is wrong in putting serious efforts to keep our environment clean especially if such actions enhance the quality of life without interfering with our beliefs, faiths or culture. Sooner we do this, better it will be for all.
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