This old saying is so true... But where are our policemen and how efficient are they in maintaining law and order ? You hardly see them at the airports.
Talking of civic sense, well... we are a nation of Billion Plus and growing by the second. It is an inborne survival instinct I suppose - to RUSH !
Can the schools have etiquettes as part of their curriculum so that the future generations can be more civilized.
While it is all nice to point out mistakes of fellow Indians (not just travellers), are we checking our own behaviour on daily basis ? <p> Are we polite to people? Picking up our trash and using dustbins? Have basic discipline to stand in line? Wait for our turn? <p> We can start with ourselves and not point fingers out. If enough people do it, we will not improve as a nation? Yes we will. <p> We need to influence our own immediate circle. Ask/request them all every time to display basic courtsey and discipline. Our children are the ones who we need to influence most so that our next generation will be better.
Why would the author say unruly behaviour is okay in bus stands but not in airports? Are bus stand users, because they are that, not entitled to civil treatment?
Rediff sucks most times and I hate to write here because I never know if my post is published or not. Rediff do not even have a login, so that I dont enter my password everytime I comment. Ok, coming to this blog sort of article, it is perfectly fine to write such thought provoking articles. Yes, Airports have to be better than Rail and Bus Stations, Why? because cleaner airports attract more foreign tourists. So when the civic sense is lacking and selfish ness is increasing in the Denizens of India what should be done? Hyderabad with thier Nawabi-istyle are making a mockery of Traffic signals to Tax payments. How and when will India change? No matter how many US returns go back to India, they crib about India(like I do) and join the cult of African tribalism. Change is difficult because we are ridiculed for being adherent to rules by friends and family at every instance. There is a way, let there be higher fines and citations for the things like littering, signal jump, bill less sales, petrol adulteration, meter tampering etc etc., let us follow examples of US or any developed country how such crimes are handled. Electronic Surveillance and automatic fine or ticketing etc. Cheers!
I totally agree with the author. If we broaden the scope of this analysis and look at the state of our society in general, we see selfishness everywhere. While it is not fair (and even not good) to expect every one to be philanthropic, the cut-throat selfishness and greed of our people stinks hard.
From a land where manners and humility are respected as a virtue, we now seem to be making a dash in to the darkness of an uncivilized jungle-like society.
The corrective actions should start not just in airports, but in every aspect of our lives - our schools, our offices, our homes, our temples, churches and masjids.
Finally, such behaviour can not be pardoned even in bus stops. Education/ Money is not related to humility and discipline. There are very few places left on eearth where it can be tolerated - jungles and dark countries of Africa, where people have to kill and maime to survive.
Charge the author our share of airport tax next time ;o) it generally amounts to more than the air fare. I dont get it, I used to travel by mumbai local train everyday for a considerable part of my life for 2 hours, are people there less "worthy" of pleasure than air travellers? Most airlines let people travel 1st class and they have a lounge and exclusive boarding for the same as far as i know. This is not a pub or a disc for the exclusive (heck even I wear a tie there) this is life! :)
civic sense for us is someone else's business. Like the evil mom-in-law who litters the floor and gives dirty looks to the daughter-in-law accusing her for not cleaning the house well, most Indians expect the janitors to cleaning up after litter created by them. For such characters, showing civic sense is uncool, after all if we dont dump things, why are we keeping all these cleaning folks? They need to earn their keep, right? Money has nothing to do with basic values, either you have them or you don't (& mostly, you don't and you're proud of it too!)
At 1st Glance I thought the writer might be a lilttle snobbish with sentences like : "One can expect this kind of behaviour in a bus station. But in an airport too?" But then again, thats our "GR8 Indian Mentality" isnt it..? Airport wala is Better than Buswalas who in turn are better than Railways right ?
Mr Writer, Its not the habbits but the mentality we need to change. You will be granted your wish only when all of us start beliving that "Everyone is Equal Citizen who deserves a CLEAN, FRIENDLY and COURTIOUS Environment."
The aspects mentioned in the article about the behaviour of the passengers, stall staff etc are very true. Coupled with this the atricious food and beverages served in the cfeteria, restaurants and the airline launges add to the discomfort. The prices to be paid for these are also not in anybody's controll. It will requier a lot of effort to starighten these things, and I see nothing happening in the near future.
RE:Airport behavior
by sandeep on Jan 05, 2007 11:21 AM Permalink
Dont u think the boom of low cost air carriers is partly to blame?...Thats one reason why u see all n sundry in an aeroplane these days:D
I had booked on Air Sahara 3 months in advance. I opted for Air Sahara over Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines, simply because of 'patriotic' reasons. I was to travel Delhi-Singapore on 1st Jan. As I have got used to delaying of the flights, I called the Air Sahara call center numbers.
After scores of attempts by myself and my 3 cousins, our call was recieved by the call center guys who told us to reach the Airport on time.
Upon reaching the Airport, the staff told that the departure time was grey and one of them 'hinted' in "only for you" gesture that go home and relax. I was provided with 2 phone numbers.
I swear, on 2nd of Jan, I tried the numbers 50+ times, no-one picked.Finally I called the Singapore center who informed that flight will take off only on 3rd.
Now, on 3rd too, the Indian call center guys simply did not pick the phone. Again, I relied on the 'Singapore' call center - to find that the time was changed from 1030 PM to 0950 PM. The ground staff was not friendly, I had to get my ticket 'theek' from the dusty office at the first floor as security people did not allow 'entry'. After boarding,there was a delay of 1.5 hrs. so much for patriotism
