International Toilet Museum traces history of toilet for the last 4500 years
International Toilet Museum traces history of toilet for the last 4500 years, A cartoon reads, “It hasn’t been flushed ever since Michael Jackson used it!” This, and many such anecdotes can be found at the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets — the only one of its kind in the world.
Set up by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak in 1993, the museum is housed in the sprawling campus of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, founded by him in 1970 at Mahavir Enclave, Palam Dabri Road, in New Delhi.
Born into an upper-caste family in Bihar, Pathak’s mission was to liberate thousands of men and women engaged in the inhuman practice of manual scavenging. Although decades back the task seemed impossible, Sulabh (meaning “simple”) is now a brand name.
Pathak was inspired by a visit to Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in London and was fixated with the idea of having a similar museum in India. He sent letters to numerous embassies and high commissions soliciting information. The overwhelming response set the ball rolling.
“The concept engaged my mind and forced me to make a hectic worldwide search for the minutest details of the evolution of toilets. I researched on the various toilet designs used in different countries at different points of time and was inundated with continuous information from many others thereafter,” Pathak says.
The project was launched with a rare collection of facts, pictures and objects detailing the historical progression of toilets from 2500BC. Comprising literature on the evolution of toilets from over 20 countries, it gives a chronology of developments over the last 4,500 years. These relate to technology, etiquette and social customs attached to the toilets.
The man who runs one of the biggest non-government organisations in India and a pioneer in low-cost sanitation, Pathak was in for several surprises during his research. He incorporated them all in the museum.
The venture begins with Mohenjodaro, which had a highly developed drainage system, and details about Mesopotamia, where water being aplenty, a flush-type toilet was developed as early as 1700BC. Similarly, pictures of the bathhouses of Harappa and Lothar (2500BC) reflect the situation around that time.
And no, it’s not just words and visuals. The museum also has an extensive display of privies, chamber pots, bidets and water closets in use from AD1145 onwards.
On touring the museum, many interesting aspects come to light. One facet tells you how the potty is known to have inspired many littérateurs — French dramatist Moilere, playwright Pierre Beaumarchais and poet Jonathan Swift would write while seated on their pots.
French Emperor Louis XIV had a commode under his throne, from where he discharged his duties. Strangely enough, while the king preferred to eat in privacy, he chose to ease himself in public.
The Sulabh chief says, “For the king, it could have been a regal whim, but several million Indians do the same out of necessity even today, as they have no toilets in their homes.”
Pathak is original in many ways. He has ensured that the museum does not become a serious place. Visitors have a good laugh at the replicas, illustrations and anecdotes that dot the place.
A picture of a medieval portable commode is disguised as a treasure chest. It is learnt that English huntsmen used it as a practical joke on bandits. The caption reads: “One can imagine the shock of unsuspecting highway robbers if they made away with such treasure chests!”
The bidet made its first appearance in 1701 in Versailles, France. Toilets in the medieval period were bright and cheerful and it was in 1739 that separate toilets for males and females emerged on the occasion of a ball held in the heart of the city. Yet it was only in 1775 that a watchmaker in London registered the first patent in this field.
Pathak informs, “Thereafter, progress was swift. The first public toilet in Paris was constructed in 1824, followed by “auto control public toilet system” in 1859. The 19th century was considered the “century of toilets”, when many patents were registered to help improve their quality. Beautiful WCs with lion, dolphin and floral designs were developed. And septic tanks first made their appearance in 1904.
Several popular beliefs are debunked during the museum tour, including the myth that Briton Thomas Crapper was the inventor of the modern cistern. Pathak said, “Crapper was a plumber who had a lot of patents on manhole covers and plumbing systems, but he did not invent the flush pot. That was done years earlier by Sir John Harrington, a courtier in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.”
Having reached this section of the museum, I wondered where India fitted in. Pathak said, “In India, toilets were initially situated far away from homes. It was only later that these moved into the courtyard, and eventually indoors.”
According to the documents, the first sanitation bill in India was introduced in 1878. Thereafter, it became mandatory to construct toilets in the slums of Calcutta, which was at that time the capital of India.
Moving further, I realise that toilets have come a long way. Among the modern-day additions is the portable Incinolet, most convenient while travelling. This environment-friendly toilet incorporates state-of-the-art technology for the disposal of human waste, wherein neither water nor septic tank is required.
Developed in the US, it requires only electricity. In a matter of 10 seconds, human waste is reduced to a spoonful of ash!
As I marvel at the innovation, a miniature toilet fixed on the wall catches my attention. It’s a container designed for children to save money in.
Fascinated, Pathak goes about describing how toilets can be viewed in different ways. I agree with him!
Set up by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak in 1993, the museum is housed in the sprawling campus of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, founded by him in 1970 at Mahavir Enclave, Palam Dabri Road, in New Delhi.
Born into an upper-caste family in Bihar, Pathak’s mission was to liberate thousands of men and women engaged in the inhuman practice of manual scavenging. Although decades back the task seemed impossible, Sulabh (meaning “simple”) is now a brand name.
Pathak was inspired by a visit to Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in London and was fixated with the idea of having a similar museum in India. He sent letters to numerous embassies and high commissions soliciting information. The overwhelming response set the ball rolling.
“The concept engaged my mind and forced me to make a hectic worldwide search for the minutest details of the evolution of toilets. I researched on the various toilet designs used in different countries at different points of time and was inundated with continuous information from many others thereafter,” Pathak says.
The project was launched with a rare collection of facts, pictures and objects detailing the historical progression of toilets from 2500BC. Comprising literature on the evolution of toilets from over 20 countries, it gives a chronology of developments over the last 4,500 years. These relate to technology, etiquette and social customs attached to the toilets.
The man who runs one of the biggest non-government organisations in India and a pioneer in low-cost sanitation, Pathak was in for several surprises during his research. He incorporated them all in the museum.
The venture begins with Mohenjodaro, which had a highly developed drainage system, and details about Mesopotamia, where water being aplenty, a flush-type toilet was developed as early as 1700BC. Similarly, pictures of the bathhouses of Harappa and Lothar (2500BC) reflect the situation around that time.
And no, it’s not just words and visuals. The museum also has an extensive display of privies, chamber pots, bidets and water closets in use from AD1145 onwards.
On touring the museum, many interesting aspects come to light. One facet tells you how the potty is known to have inspired many littérateurs — French dramatist Moilere, playwright Pierre Beaumarchais and poet Jonathan Swift would write while seated on their pots.
French Emperor Louis XIV had a commode under his throne, from where he discharged his duties. Strangely enough, while the king preferred to eat in privacy, he chose to ease himself in public.
The Sulabh chief says, “For the king, it could have been a regal whim, but several million Indians do the same out of necessity even today, as they have no toilets in their homes.”
Pathak is original in many ways. He has ensured that the museum does not become a serious place. Visitors have a good laugh at the replicas, illustrations and anecdotes that dot the place.
A picture of a medieval portable commode is disguised as a treasure chest. It is learnt that English huntsmen used it as a practical joke on bandits. The caption reads: “One can imagine the shock of unsuspecting highway robbers if they made away with such treasure chests!”
The bidet made its first appearance in 1701 in Versailles, France. Toilets in the medieval period were bright and cheerful and it was in 1739 that separate toilets for males and females emerged on the occasion of a ball held in the heart of the city. Yet it was only in 1775 that a watchmaker in London registered the first patent in this field.
Pathak informs, “Thereafter, progress was swift. The first public toilet in Paris was constructed in 1824, followed by “auto control public toilet system” in 1859. The 19th century was considered the “century of toilets”, when many patents were registered to help improve their quality. Beautiful WCs with lion, dolphin and floral designs were developed. And septic tanks first made their appearance in 1904.
Several popular beliefs are debunked during the museum tour, including the myth that Briton Thomas Crapper was the inventor of the modern cistern. Pathak said, “Crapper was a plumber who had a lot of patents on manhole covers and plumbing systems, but he did not invent the flush pot. That was done years earlier by Sir John Harrington, a courtier in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.”
Having reached this section of the museum, I wondered where India fitted in. Pathak said, “In India, toilets were initially situated far away from homes. It was only later that these moved into the courtyard, and eventually indoors.”
According to the documents, the first sanitation bill in India was introduced in 1878. Thereafter, it became mandatory to construct toilets in the slums of Calcutta, which was at that time the capital of India.
Moving further, I realise that toilets have come a long way. Among the modern-day additions is the portable Incinolet, most convenient while travelling. This environment-friendly toilet incorporates state-of-the-art technology for the disposal of human waste, wherein neither water nor septic tank is required.
Developed in the US, it requires only electricity. In a matter of 10 seconds, human waste is reduced to a spoonful of ash!
As I marvel at the innovation, a miniature toilet fixed on the wall catches my attention. It’s a container designed for children to save money in.
Fascinated, Pathak goes about describing how toilets can be viewed in different ways. I agree with him!
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