Flush toilet and Modernity

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS in his book "The New Asian Hemisphere" said, "And if I were asked to name the date when my life entered the modern world, I would date it to the arrival of the flush toilet, when I was about 10 years old (in late 1950s)"

Many people of my age group from Bolehland and The Little Red Dot, can really relate to this, from personal experience. People in the West probably will not except for some Blacks in USA. The people in Asian like India and China are still experiencing this "metal bin or rubber bin" night soil system - sometimes only replaced on a weekly basis!!

My children born in the late 1970s in Bolehland and my grandchildren born in the early 2000s in Kiwiland would never understand nor appreciate this transition from pre modern to modern day living.

Like Professor Kishore, after the arrival of the flush toilet, the other modern day conveniences were added to our home, like TV, refrigerator, gas cooker (transition from the wood fire/charcoal stove)..... For me, all these were as recent as the late 60s!!

Today the modern world has leaped to another level of technological advancement in terms of electronics and integrated circuits which bring along computers, mobile phones, ipods and other luxury "want" items.

Although the mobile phones are generally affordable and available to many poor in Asia today (there is a need for more effective communication and information), many of these in the developing countries are still without the basic flush toilet, which very much depends on the respective government emphasis on public infrastructures.

Lest some of my generation forget, this entry serves to remind us not to take things for granted. And be thankful and grateful always.