Civic sense, now whats that?!

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Laws are obeyed, rules are followed, but in this age of hyper-individualism, is that unspoken, unwritten code of conduct termed civic sense becoming a dying art? Or do we still have time to salvage some remnants? Causes and effects are plenty, but at the receiving end of such apathy are those who still value empathy as one of the guiding lights of life, and for them its absence stings, just as it does for me.

Take the example of the maddening evening crowd in the metros of Dubai. The government has done a fabulous job of connecting every nook and corner of the land with a state-of-the-art metro service that is user-friendly, sleek, and reliable, programmed at regular intervals to match the surge of commuters. That’s when we find those adamant ladies who won’t budge an inch from the doorstep. Those getting in either need to know a little bit of acrobatics or muster immense strength and agility to push past these human pillars. It is not because they can’t move in or need to exit at the next station. Even with space in the aisle inside, they prefer their cozy corners near the doors, leaving many on the platforms unable to squeeze in.

Any event with hordes of revelers, worshippers, performers, or audiences will have heaps of rubbish strewn all over the place in no time. It leaves a taste of disgust in the mouths and minds to see boxes of half-opened, spilled food and drinks, wrappers, and whatnots.

The biggest trigger that unsettles me is when people fill up the pavements and narrow spaces, oblivious to those coming from the opposite side or just trying to squeeze past in a hurry to go about their lives. Is it that, after a point, others become invisible to these fill-up-the-space bodies, mortals with zero civic sense? For them, queues don’t matter, those with pre-fixed appointments don’t matter, time doesn’t matter, unless it is their own.

If Japan, a country just like any other, can groom generations of mindful, empathetic citizens, then why not others? Japan has regulated its education to devote a huge part of the school curriculum to civic sense that too with practical examples. From a young age, respecting others and their existence is treated as a responsibility and commitment, something you owe both to yourself and to others. It is given more emphasis than religious studies and that is the need of the hour!

Yes, it has to be taught from a young age. Yes, it has to follow you throughout your life. Think about others, hitherto strangers. These are not grand acts, but they can change the way we live together. They can make our days a little smoother, our journeys a little kinder.



  

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