Civic Sense

Today, I wish to simply speak (or write!) my heart out on a very significant topic and it is upon you to spare a few thoughts, reflect upon my views, introspect and realize how much we are so inextricably annealed to this malice, which is the absence of civic sense.

Now you may ask, what is civic sense? , Civic sense is nothing but social ethics. A lot of people would assume that civic sense is just about keeping the roads, streets and public property clean. But no, civic sense is more than that; it has to do with law-abiding, respect for fellow men and maintaining decorum in public places.

Now why is it that the lack of civic sense has become so is called ‘inevitable’ in our lifestyles? Why does civic sense seem so alien a term to all of us? Why is lack of civic sense become, the Indian way of doing things? Disregard for the law, for rules, any restrictions that bind us is the primary cause for lacking civic sense. We all adhere to any rules, not by understanding its value and by respecting it, but out of mere compulsion. And we are ever ready to break these rules, do we get a chance.

Examples are not too far to seek…if there is no one to supervise us, we never care before we break the rules and regulations, laws- to regulate us. Once I asked a brother of mine, why he wasn't wearing the helmet while driving. His reply was, "There is no Police On Sundays, why do I care! We don't think twice before breaking traffic rules, before damaging public property, before littering public places and what not, if there is no one to supervise us. If there is no authority to keep a watch over us, we don’t care about any restrictions and become the kings of our own will!

We are also so very confined to ourselves that we even forget that respect the basic rights an freedom of others. Talking loudly in public places, chattering away in libraries and restaurants, playing loud music in homes without sparing a thought that the neighbour is sick are just a few examples.

Moreover, we don’t have the feeling of collective responsibility and the sense of collective ownership of any public property. We don’t have this feeling that-“These streets are my own, the city is my own, the country is my own, but assume it as the sole responsibility of XYZ institution, and continue misusing it. We concentrate all our efforts in keeping everything neat, clean and presentable within the four walls of our homes, but as soon as we take a step outside our homes, we treat the streets as dustbins!

When we will inculcate the sense of collective responsibility and take it upon ourselves towards the maintenance of public property, it will be only then that India will truly prosper, and reach the zenith’s height from where no country could challenge us. But there are miles to go (attitudes to change, that too Indian thinking!) before that.

Hitesh Golchha