The piping-hot appam and stew breakfast combination felt like a delicious, warm hug, as the monsoon clouds painted a grey sky that eventually broke into a steady downpour. Last month, a whistle-stop visit to a dear friend’s family home for her late father’s memorial service, in the interiors of Piravom in Mamalassery, reiterated why the state is arguably one of India’s cleanest. The high civic sense that’s ingrained in most citizens’ DNA needs to be seen to be believed.

Post that breakfast, organised after the service in a community hall near the church, I noticed that instead of leaving their plates at the table — a sight that we are so used to seeing at community meals, be it for a wedding, festival or any other family occasion — here, every individual, young and old, made their way to a tall cylindrical-like stainless steel container, where they disposed of their leftovers carefully; after this, each of them placed these used plates in a large washing sink nearby. I was stumped at this no-fuss routine that was done in a seamless manner. Not a scrap of food was spotted on the floor lining that container. Another surprise, given what we are used to noticing around waste bins across our country, be it at a public gathering or a private celebration in a community hall.

Even the area around the common wash basins was spotless, and devoid of large water puddles. ‘What rare civilisation is this!’ I pinched myself as I watched this scene roll out, until the last person wrapped up their breakfast at the squeaky-clean venue.