I totally agree with the author on his experience at delhi airport. I had the most undesired unpleasantry experience at both domestic and international terminals in delhi in october, 2006. The domestic terminal was of the same standard as the author mentions with the exact attitude of the passengers and one specific gentleman decided to give a long lecture on hinduism (true fact is I am a hindu too), not only to his co-passenger but abour 30-40 odd passengers around him who unfortuantely where palced at an audible distance to him.
ANd the international terminal was far worse in management, with our prestigious Air India staff being so un-pleasant and un-helpful. My flight was delayed for 2 days and I couldn't believe it as no specifc answer or reason was provided (not till now).
I couldn't help but to hold my head in shame hearing to the fellow international passengers and foreigners on the astute conditions in our airports.
Who would take the responsibilty to sort out this mess? I have no clue and I feel nor does the administartion..
We Indians are clearly and properly highlighted in this case. Its just that we are a democracy without any functioning police or judiciary. There are no laws, rules and jungle raj exists even at airports and planes. Most to blame are the uneducated rich. I do not mind all this happening in an unreserved 3rd class train compartment, but when it happens in planes it is disgusting. India has the largest middle class but it is also a country with unethical and disgusting people. Just as 'bihari' is synonymous with foul lanaguage, 'Indian' has a similar meaning outside India. I have seen other poor countries in this world, but India is poor in everything, money as well as civic sense - and the problem is it is getting worse.
This column captures the essence of contemporary air travel in India. It is, as the author says, the fellow passengers who are the worst behaved of all the people inside an Indian airport. One is left fuming and feeling like an idiot when a lot of snooty fellow travelers cut in front as if its their right to do so! The other day I was standing in a really long serpentine queue for security check at the Delhi airport and there was this Haryanavi (gentle?)man whose behavior made me wonder if it was really a state transport bus that I was waiting to board. I think AAI can do something about halting unruly behavior by the general Indian public inside one of their airports.
RE:Truth truth nothing but the truth
by Ravikant on Jan 05, 2007 10:25 AM Permalink
The author has rightly canted the woes of an air traveller.But if we were to ask whether air travel in India would become comfortable, the answer would be in the negative. Air Travel is no longer the prirority of only the rich. Like all else it has become pedestrian. Due to the huge population seeking out hassle free travel,and the general inclination to get their work done quickly, airtravel has become a necessity. It is only in the mind of the Govt that this change is not reflected. Our country needs large number of airports to handle the large traffic.There are no spaces left within our large urban centers forcing these airports out into the country.Such a situation calls for a seperate infrastucture for ferrying passengers to and from the airports. In the absence of this infrastucture the hapless passengers are left at the mercy of the profiteering taxi operators and their minions. The cult that an air passenger is to be fleeced mercilessly by all, has to go. The deterioration of the airport environment forces the passenger to shed any restraint adding woe to the miserable situation. One can only hope that the Govt does something fast else the misery will persist.
So sad !!! But this tranformation of our metro resident but should i say semi - rural mental state ( Using the word rural is also a slur on the poor villagers, who although are poor but have not lost the indian ethos to care for other, This you will find typically in rural areas of Saurashtra that the village youth stands up for the ladiies or the old, but else where in Gujarat where more industrialization and the consequent urban proximity has made them semi rural and who falls in between and has still not developed the urban suavity like you and is forgetting the old rural ethos, This also true for other states). This transformation could have taken place three decades ago had it not been for the license - permit raj which kept some of this modern age utilities as luxury for few and which had no definitive logic. This airportas were long due to be tranformed into ISBT just as in the west. Since transportation by rail/road is the most un-economical mode ( Ecologically too !!) time wise too. When the Aircraft itself became a Air BUS this was long due. The exclusivity & allofness of the rich and ruler to travel by air is now nipped. Happy journey sorry..Bon voyage,Welcome India..
I congratulate the writer and also the editor to put, what I would call a bold article especially in todays Hypocritic India which doesnt seem to know the very attitude of keeping their feets on the ground before thinking of flying. To add to it, the fun was never there in flying..Ever seen the international Airlines where, no sooner do our PEOPLE get on their seats they start howling,calling each other as though in a train & call the hostess as though it was their slave for Water..latest brag about the ten different flights they have to take. We might have progressed(??????){coz there isnt any progress in PSUs)but we never learned the right etiquettes of courtesy, politeness & right attitude. Can we publish such good articles in leading newspapers so that the unerudited of our Indian society(mannerly)can take a clue from it. Oh no..what did i forget here... WE SAY WE ARE NOT RACISTS... Cut the crap...
RE:What an article>>> HATS OFF!!
by alok on Jan 04, 2007 07:20 PM Permalink
well i dont get it, is howling bad or howling in aircrafts bad but ok in trains? Yes indians are a talkative lot, noisy blah blah.. so what?
I can't agree with you more on this subject. Partly it is the new found money and status for people who are not yet ready to take it. Everyone, well almost everyone, wants to show how busy or important they are, without having the slightest of respect for the fellow passenger.
Whenever I travel back to India, not a single staff in the immigration or any other staff in the airport has greeted me with a smile. Is it so expensive to wear a smile? I won't consider my country to be progressed until all the people in our country learn to live like humans.
