Growing up, I was taught that the wheel was the greatest invention that changed the world. As I approach the end of my life, I now recognize that the wheel has serious competition. Recently, I had to use the restroom in a public place. As I’ve aged, these visits have become more frequent and less predictable. When nature calls, one must answer. Moments after entering the restroom, I realized that the small, dark, and uninviting space lacked a hand-held faucet. Instead, there was only a bucket with stagnant, muddy water and a rusty dipper that seemed to say, “Take it or leave it.”In the not-so-distant past, before the advent of faucets, women had to hoist up their long, starched cotton saris while squatting, holding the pleats between their chin and sternum to free their hands. The challenge was to use the dipper to transfer water from the bucket to the desired area without spilling, slipping, or staining the sari or petticoat. Imagine trying to do this on a moving train!Then, one day, a compassionate soul, perhaps inspired by his love for his mother, sister, or daughter, invented the hand-held faucet, a distant relative of the French bidet. Indian women have been eternally grateful for this invention, rarely giving it a second thought. That is, until they find themselves in a restroom without one.doctorsusiesamuel@gmail.com
The Hand-Held Faucet: A Revolutionary Invention for Women’s Hygiene
