The Delhi government has initiated a movement to teach its people the common etiquette and manners. New brochures and leaflets have been printed telling the public not to spit or throw rubbish on the road and also not to pee on the road. The blatant message for the people is :-``Do not become Su Su Kumar or Thu Thu Kumar''.
Good move! It's high time people, not only in Delhi but in the rest of the country as well, must learn to regard their nation and respect their surroundings. A mere statement that `Mera Bharat Mahaan' is not enough to convey our love or respect for the nation. It is much more than that - respecting our surroundings, our neighbourhood, our cities and our country in true sense.
All of us have witnessed these gross sights - spits all over the road and paan -stained corners in each and every government building and public place and revellers throwing rubbish at any place of their choices. The streets are used as open urinals where men can be spotted shamelessly standing with their pants down. The sight of a bottle or an empty can of cold drink or a packet of crisps flying out of a speeding car is not rare sight on Indian streets.
One of my friends (an educated one) once confessed to me that he doesn't mind throwing rubbish out on the road - when driving but he concsiously does not do the same when in some other country. There was a lengthy argument which followed between him and me. I tried convincing him that we should follow the right pattern of behaviour when it comes to etiquette rather than chosen behaviour at given situations. His argument was : ``Do in Rome as Romans do - here everyone throws rubbish on the road, me alone restraining would not make any difference''.
I totally disagree with him. I never throw rubbish on the road or spit on the road whether in India or any other country. I have taught my children also to follow the same pattern of behaviour. We often end up bringing the rubbish home and then throwing it in our bin. It has to start from somewhere and from someone. Why not me? If everyone starts thinking like my friend, the country would soon become a big garbage bin and an open public urinal. But if all of us resolve to behave - the way we should be behaving - we can definitely make a difference.
Similar argument I had once with one of my old colleagues. He objected to my criticism of Indians who did not behave. He said he loves his country and felt hurt if someone says anything against India or Indians.
I questioned him - Is simply being an Indian enough to be proud of our nation or do we need to do something for the nation to make us feel proud of it ?
He had no answer. I had one - before claiming to be Indian and being proud of the fact, make sure that you respect India. It start from our homes and reaches as far as our neighbourhood, our city, our work places, our other cities and eventually our country as a whole.
Kudos to Delhi government which has at least taken this initiative to change the age-old behaviour pattern in its people. I wish them success and hope some sense would prevails in the minds of Indians and they stop littering their own roads and dirtying their own surroundings.
