Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Ramesh who lived in a small village in India. He loved playing with his buddies and exploring the world around him. One sunny day, as he walked to the school, Ramesh noticed something strange. The streets were filled with waste and scrap was scattered everywhere.
Ramesh was saddened by what he saw and he thought to himself, “This is not how our village should look! We need to take responsibility for keeping our village clean.” Inspired by this realisation, Ramesh decided to take action.
Ramesh ran back home and grabbed a broom and a bin to clean the streets. He started sweeping the streets, picking up the trash and putting it in the bin. When his friends saw him, they joined in too. Together, they swept and cleaned, making the streets sparkle.
Word quickly spread about Ramesh’s efforts, and soon the entire village got involved. People organised clean-up drives and educated others about the importance of cleanliness, resulting the villagers collaborated to keep their village clean and beautiful.
After the transformation of the village, a government official visited it and was impressed by the hard work and dedication of the villagers. The official promised to provide more bins and regular garbage pick-ups to support them.
Ramesh and his friends were filled with joy upon hearing this news. They realised that their small actions had a big impact and learned the importance of taking care of their surroundings.
From that day forward, the village became an example for neighbouring towns. The people from the neighbouring towns visited them to learn from their expertise. Ramesh and his friends were hailed as local heroes for their public responsibility.
Ramesh’s village remained clean and beautiful, and it became a source of pride for everyone living there. Ramesh learned that, despite his young age, he could have a positive impact on his community.
Ramesh’s story inspired both children and adults, teaching them that no matter how small they are, everyone has a role in caring for public spaces and making communities better places to live.
The moral mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita,
यद् यद् आचरति श्रेष्ठः
तत् तद् एवेतरो जनः
स यत् प्रमाणं कुरुते
लोकस् तद् अनुवर्तते॥
[Yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate]
“Whatever action is performed by great men, common men follow in their footsteps. And whatever standards they set by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”
The following Shloka is from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3, Verse 21) and highlights the significant impact that influential individuals’ actions and behaviours have on society. When great individuals demonstrate responsible and moral behaviour, it inspires and motivates others to follow suit. In the context of the story, this aligns with Ramesh’s decision to take responsibility for cleaning the village, which led others to join him and create a positive change in their community.
