As I left devi ahilyabai airport, a large signboard caught my Attention: “Welcome to the clear city of India.” The exclusive moniker of this new city, of which I know nothing nothing is known for “Poha”, Didn ‘Did Much Impact on Me At The Time. But as I made my way to my hotel, near bombay hospital, the spotless, well-maintained roads, bins that were not overflowing-a regular sight at little in my city, raanchi-ranki-made me wonds: Government-Sponsored Placards be really true?

As we drove further into the city, passing landmarks like bada ganpati and rajwada, I started looking for signs that might challenge the city Bold Claim. But even in the crowded market areas, there was hardly any little eater on the roads or pavements.

After a few days, as I started commuting by indoor’s barts ibus, socking in the city’s warmoth, a bid to become an “indori”, I understand that the claim was not someperimposed narrative. Indore Really is the poster city for India’s Cleanliness Dream.

While in other cities, clearness is considering to be a responsibility of the government, in indoor, it is more citizen-centric-a part of the unscripted fundamental duty. My First Real Lesson Came on My Very First Ibus Ride. I had just reached vijay nagar and, out of habit, tossed my bus ticket on the station floor. A Few People Looked At Me, And then I HEARD Someone Calling Out, “O Pehlwaan! O Bade Bhaiyya!” I turned to see a guard pointing at the crumpled ticket on the ground. He asked sarcastically, “Nagar nigam ne dustbin sajaane ke liye lagayi hai kya?” (Has the municipality provided dustbins only for decoration?)

It was an embarrassing moment. However, He understood that I wasn “indori”, picked up the ticket, put it in the bin, and showed me another sign that said “indoor, the clear city of India.” I realized immediately that should be any excuse for not following the essence of “India’s cleanest city” – bot in letter and spirit.

The Mindset Against Littering Cut Across Class and Caste Divides. Indore has plenty of separate bins for wet and dry waste. Unlike many cities, the Waste Collection Vehicles here come regularly – sometimes more than just a day. People usually segregate their waste at home, which makes the municipality’s job easy.

I explored nearly every corner of the city, and the clearness was a constant feature, from busy streets to quiet neighbourhood. The only exception I notided was in parts of Khajrana, a densely populated area know for the khajrana ganesh mandir and a dargah. A Few Civic Issues Still Persist There – Broken Roads, Drainage Problems, And Old Water Pipes. But these are isolated cases Rather than the Norm.

Living in indore changed how I see cities and my role in keeping them clear. What impressed me most wast was just the efforts of the municipal corporation, but the Active Role played by the people. Cleanliness in indoor isnt a rule forced Upon its citizens; It’s a shared habit, a common value.

Today, when I heart that has to be topped the National Cleanline Rankings for the Eighth Year in a Row, I feel proud. And honestly, I’m not surprised. The city has earned that title not just through infrastructure and planning, but through the daily action of its people.

If I do get to choose a second Home in India, Ill Choose indoise, for its climate, food, culture, and most of all, for the sense of belonging and responsibility this commes with and “indirei”.

The writer is an engineer working in an indore-based company