Toilet Training

NEW DELHI —When Lee Wang-Fend and Cheu Chulu Kuel were married in a public loo in Taiwan on 14 January, little did they dream that their wedding, splashed in newspapers the world over, would prove inspirational for a social service organisation in India.

Sulabh International is a Delhi-based group which has been campaigning to provide clean toilet and bath facilities at nominal rates in the proliferating slums and other congested areas of Indian cities.

The news of the Taiwanese couple wed in a public toilet gladdened the hearts of Sulabh officials, who decided to publicise the importance of such facilities. Sulabh even ventured to invite the couple for a honeymoon in India.

"We have heard of aeroplane and underwater marriages, but this bathroom marriage is conspicuous, for the lack of such facilities," said one Sulabh rep. "We have invited the young couple to celebrate their honeymoon in India and also to visit interesting places in the country."

Founder of Sulabh International, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, wrote to the couple, "By marrying in a public bathroom, you have broken the social and attitudinal barriers that have separated bathrooms from the rest of houses and thus, keeping them unclean and neglected."

Sulabh wanted the couple to inaugurate newly-built bathroom and toilet complexes in India during their visit to highlight the importance of these facilities for urban living. "We can keep cities clean and people healthy by promoting toilets as an institution that should be clean enough for weddings to take place, as Mr Lee and Ms Cheu showed in Taiwan," says Dr Pathak.

At the time of going to press, Sulabh International told HSA that the newly-weds had yet to respond to their invitation.