SUCHCHA
Its root is in Pali word ‘Suchit’ (pure) and Sanskrit word ‘shuchit’ (cleaned, washed, purified)
In common usage it means: clean, pure, immaculate.
In Hinduism, extreme cleanliness of body, kitchen, utensils, clothes etc is known as suchch (cleanliness, purity). If an untouchable touches an eatable or even a utensil, it becomes not only unclean but also polluted.
Sikhism considers all this as hypocrisy. Sikhism favours physical cleanliness but it also teaches purity of mind, which is equally important.
They can’t be called ‘suchcha’ who just wash their bodies.
Suchcha are those in whose mind God dwells. (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 472).
Antonym of suchcha is juttha (unclean, impure, polluted).
Also see: Jootth, Ablution, Pollution.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)