Column | Can we import civic sense?
A columnist reflects on the frequent public discourse surrounding the perceived lack of 'civic sense' in India, prompted by a generational interaction. The piece questions whether such societal traits can be imported or if they are deeply rooted in cultural habits.
Why it matters
It captures a common cultural debate in India regarding modernization, social etiquette, and the friction between different generations.
Dear reader, we are already in October! October! How did we get here? When did this happen? Were we informed? Why does this keep happening?
I have no idea. All I know is that once again, we find ourselves hurtling towards the end of yet another calendar year. The other day, I was speaking to a young software engineer. In the course of breaking the ice, we decided to swap life stories. “Okay, Sidin,” he said. “Tell me about your work history. What kind of things have you done in life?”
“I have been working for exactly 25 years,” I told him. “I started my first job way back in 2001.”
“Nothing, nothing. I just realised that you started working three years before I was born.”
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