History of toilets and sanitation (Video on Untouchability)

[Guest guest]

INDOLOGY, "ymalaiya" <ymalaiya> wrote:

>

> The video mentions "Manual scavenging" which involves involves

> manual removal of human and animal excreta.

>

> I am curious about how this custom evolved and how sanitation was

> done in the past and in other cultures.

 

Dear Yashwant-ji,

 

Have you visited this site ? Lots of info on toilets and plumbing in

ancient civilisations.

 

http://www.plumbingworld.com/historybabylon.html

 

The articles give an insight to cultural differences on how bathing

and other cleaning rituals were viewed, and what kind of concepts

and practices of cleanliness prevailed from older times right down

to the modern times.

 

There is an interesting article 'To Bathe or Not to Bathe:

Coming Clean in Colonial America' by Edwards Park.

 

http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/Autumn00/bathe.cfm

 

>

> I think it was customary in India, and still quite common in rural

> areas for people to "go to the fields", where the excreta does not

> need to be removed. In fact in some regions people use the

> term "going to the field/jungle" to mean going to the toilet.

>

 

Yes, it should be interesting to find out when the lesser mortals (I

am assuming that the ruling and rich elite always had

private 'holes' that were cleaned by servents) began using scavenger

services as opposed to using open spaces. I am certain that it would

not be more than a few centuries old.

 

Regards,

Sugrutha