A post about a Vande Bharat train has sparked a discussion online about a familiar issue: civic sense in public spaces. Industrialist Harsh Goenka shared a video from a train journey, and the footage has led social media users to debate how people use and treat facilities meant for everyone.The conversation has also moved into a broader question about whether education, money or access to better facilities automatically leads to more responsible behaviour in public places.
What the Vande Bharat video shows
The video begins with passengers being served snacks, newspapers and breakfast at their seats. Train staff are later seen collecting the trays after the meal.Another part of the clip shows the train’s washroom in a clean and well-maintained condition.The footage then shows plastic wrappers stuffed into seat pockets, drink cans placed on seats and the floor, and newspapers left around the coach.A text appearing in the video reads, “Maybe Indians don’t deserve facilities like Vande Bharat trains.”
Harsh Goenka raises a question
Sharing the clip on X, Goenka wrote, “How to teach our people civic sense?”He described Vande Bharat as “fast, modern and comfortable” while questioning how such facilities can be maintained when passengers do not act responsibly.
Users weigh in
The post drew comments from people who discussed the issue from different angles.One user wrote, “At this point it’s clear that It’s not the literacy; we need all 140B people to take responsibility like the ones who do… World-class infra being diminished like this is not acceptable, and everyone should be held responsible,”Another comment focused on the behaviour of people who may already have access to education and financial resources.“And these are people who are likely well educated, have money & are not in any rush. The majority of the public must do self-introspection first. I mean, this is a pretty serious issue. Offices, schools, programmes, etc. must educate them, or else we will just become a country of brutes.”
The conversation turns to public places
Some users said the issue is not limited to trains.One person commented, “No wonder Indians are among the lowest in terms of civic sense. They want to use everything the nation gives them, but they don’t want to make a single contribution. No respect for roads where people spit at will/ public places where people pee when they want,”Another user described seeing litter in a recently renovated park.“Seriously, my thoughts today too. I was walking in a recently renovated park and was so disgusted to see plastic bottles, chip covers, half-eaten plates strewn behind the benches. This is despite dustbins being provided every 75 feet! What should we do to correct this?”Disclaimer: The views expressed in the social media posts quoted in this article are those of the individual users. The Times of India does not independently verify the claims, opinions or observations made in these posts.Thumb image: X
