Twenty two people died at Elphistone Road Station today. That count includes a child. If we are being completely truthful, they were killed. Killed by unwitting killers. Every article, tweet or report I have seen puts the blame on the government. The cause of the tragedy by all consensus is infrastructure. The truth that no one really wants to talk about is that the tragedy had as much to do with the callous attitude of the commuters as it had to do with infrastructure. The killers could have just as easily been killed. Yes, the infrastructure is crippling under the sheer weight of the population. However it is not the only reason for the tragedy. The other reason is the sheer insensitivy shown by a large section of commuters to fellow humans. To understand, why this came to pass, we need to go back in time.
On 15th August 1947 when we got independence from the British, we had the whole country to ourselves. To start with we had too many people to feed and too little food on the plate. Then we had too many people and too few jobs. Since the 1970's we have had large number of people migrating to cities. The infrastructure, the job opportunities and the sheer space has not kept up with the inflow of people. This has led to a desperate need to fight for every inch. Because demand outstrips supply in absolutely every walk of life in the metropolis it leads to immense insecurity. We are hard wired to get ahead of the person in front. The problem is we eventually started fighting for things that don't really matter.
Why?
Conditioning
That is just what we have become. If the person in front in driving slow we will either change lanes to speed past him or if that space is not there, we will honk till the ears bleed. When using public transportation, we have absolutely no consideration for others. We jump in before people can get down. We do not want to waste a second to hold the door for the person behind us. If we do, they are unlikely to waste their breath thanking us. That is what we city dwellers in India have become - insensitive, impolite, uncourteous and innately selfish.
The tragedy at Elphistone Road could have been avoided if people were sensitive and polite. It started when people started blocking the exits at rush hour to avoid being drenched in the rain. Insensitive to the fact that they are obstructing hundreds of people from getting to work. Then people, in hurry to get to work or to just get out of the place, started pushing to get ahead. I am quite certain the stairs would have been slippery with water. Someone might have slipped leading to an unfortunate cascading effect. It is not inconceivable. Anyone who has commuted in local trains in Mumbai will not be surprised by this. Panic brings out the worst in us. People acted as if staying dry and getting to work was more important than human lives. Now to be fair, given a choice, one would choose human lives unless he or she is completely deranged. However, that is not what happened at Elphistone Road. This is where lack of sensitivity comes in.
Where do we go from here?
Few of us have a large enough circle of influence to effect meaningful change. However, we certainly can influence the next generation. Monitor your behaviour. Moreso, in front of children, be it yours or someone elses. When we cut in front of other vehicles, we tell them it is okay to be an idiot. When we slam the door in the face of a delivery guy, we tell them not everyone deserves respect. When we do not thank an auto driver for dropping us, we tell them some professions aren't worthy of recognition. When we treat waiters at a restaurant like we own them, we tell the children that courtesy is not worth it. Therefore, I urge you. Please look inside yourself. Yes, life in the city is hard. There are places to go and promotions to win. However, you owe it to your children. Do not let them grow into inresponsible adults with insufferable levels of entitlement.
About a year back, I visited Ambleside in Lake District. I was entering a quaint little cafe when a group of older folk got alongside me. I politely let the whole lot get in ahead of me. They all thanked me. Incidentally, we all left at the same time. One elderly gentleman from the group stopped and insisted that I leave before him. My earlier gesture had clearly not gone unnoticed.
He said, "Please, after you".
That attitude could have saved lives today.
On 15th August 1947 when we got independence from the British, we had the whole country to ourselves. To start with we had too many people to feed and too little food on the plate. Then we had too many people and too few jobs. Since the 1970's we have had large number of people migrating to cities. The infrastructure, the job opportunities and the sheer space has not kept up with the inflow of people. This has led to a desperate need to fight for every inch. Because demand outstrips supply in absolutely every walk of life in the metropolis it leads to immense insecurity. We are hard wired to get ahead of the person in front. The problem is we eventually started fighting for things that don't really matter.
Why?
Conditioning
That is just what we have become. If the person in front in driving slow we will either change lanes to speed past him or if that space is not there, we will honk till the ears bleed. When using public transportation, we have absolutely no consideration for others. We jump in before people can get down. We do not want to waste a second to hold the door for the person behind us. If we do, they are unlikely to waste their breath thanking us. That is what we city dwellers in India have become - insensitive, impolite, uncourteous and innately selfish.
The tragedy at Elphistone Road could have been avoided if people were sensitive and polite. It started when people started blocking the exits at rush hour to avoid being drenched in the rain. Insensitive to the fact that they are obstructing hundreds of people from getting to work. Then people, in hurry to get to work or to just get out of the place, started pushing to get ahead. I am quite certain the stairs would have been slippery with water. Someone might have slipped leading to an unfortunate cascading effect. It is not inconceivable. Anyone who has commuted in local trains in Mumbai will not be surprised by this. Panic brings out the worst in us. People acted as if staying dry and getting to work was more important than human lives. Now to be fair, given a choice, one would choose human lives unless he or she is completely deranged. However, that is not what happened at Elphistone Road. This is where lack of sensitivity comes in.
Where do we go from here?
Few of us have a large enough circle of influence to effect meaningful change. However, we certainly can influence the next generation. Monitor your behaviour. Moreso, in front of children, be it yours or someone elses. When we cut in front of other vehicles, we tell them it is okay to be an idiot. When we slam the door in the face of a delivery guy, we tell them not everyone deserves respect. When we do not thank an auto driver for dropping us, we tell them some professions aren't worthy of recognition. When we treat waiters at a restaurant like we own them, we tell the children that courtesy is not worth it. Therefore, I urge you. Please look inside yourself. Yes, life in the city is hard. There are places to go and promotions to win. However, you owe it to your children. Do not let them grow into inresponsible adults with insufferable levels of entitlement.
About a year back, I visited Ambleside in Lake District. I was entering a quaint little cafe when a group of older folk got alongside me. I politely let the whole lot get in ahead of me. They all thanked me. Incidentally, we all left at the same time. One elderly gentleman from the group stopped and insisted that I leave before him. My earlier gesture had clearly not gone unnoticed.
He said, "Please, after you".
That attitude could have saved lives today.
On point bro, on freaking point. Compassion toward fellow human is something no one ever stops to think about. We are all busy creating a cocoon of comfort for ourselves and our closest ones. Respect, empathy, consideration is the first to get trampled upon. And we are quite blatantly unashamed of it.
ReplyDeleteCutting ahead of cars on the street is a mark of how good you are as a driver!
We create the mess, then crib over it and eventually fail at whatever false attempts we make to clear out the clutter.
While you're right, we owe it to our next generations, and change will come surely. I believe this is we where to start! We'll be surprised to see how things in the larger scheme of things begin to make sure much more sense.
You're a traveling man, ain't it refreshing to just notice and feel this very thing in countries abroad?!
Yep. All too real. Unfortunately, I fear the coming generations will only be more cocooned in their own worlds.
DeleteWhen I travel abroad, it feels normal. Things make sense. You should see the stewards at football matches. They are really nice though they have a tough job.
Oh, yes!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteVery well said!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteThe issue is with our education system, we are only taught to survive by all means crazy competition. Nothing teaches us about true values and compassion for others. That void is filled by the so called religions which divides us even further.
ReplyDeleteMumbai locals represent compulsion not spirit
ReplyDeleteTrue. The transportation infrastructure is outdated
DeleteNice article. Appreciate the message of “Look within first to make a significant change all around”
ReplyDeleteThank you
Delete