[sadhuji]

There were two bits of information that should have appeared on the front-page of newspapers but were tucked away in corners. One of these pertained to the proposal to train English to the Chinese in Institutes in Hyderabad and also etiquettes before the beginning of the Olympic season in Beijing. The Chinese authorities are zeroing in on India because the cost here is cheaper. The intention of the Chinese is to create a group who can converse fluently with foreigners in English and interact in various fields like IT, Business etcetera to gain the benefits.

The second pertains to the British. It seems that newcomers to Britain would receive a welcome pack containing instructions like ‘do not spit on roads’, ‘do not touch people’, ‘do not throw litter’, ‘ do follow the queue system in shops and other places’, ‘do not jump queues’ etcetera. These are not India specific but we Indians would earn the respect of the international community if we ourselves introduced self policing to do away with these irritants. Our road sense is awful with motorists and bus and auto rickshaw drivers taking heavenly delight in breaking all the rules of the book. Our civic sense is appalling, we do not bother about others and even if there are sick persons nearby, we seldom take their feelings into consideration while celebrating our success in some venture. All of us know these shortcomings but habits die hard. It will take tremendous determination to root out such evils.

[Aishah]

These two topics are rather bizarrely related aren't they? One is that Indians are teaching etiquette and the other is a pack for etiquette in Britain and it lists all the traits that Indians are 'experts' in! How could one stop spitting, urinating in public places, dropping litter, pushing ahead in queues which are not queues, driving in reckless, ruleless fashions? These things are so endemic here to 'root them out' seems to me an impossibility. Where would one start?  I have discussions often with members of my family here and they all think this is 'normal' and there is nothing wrong with these rude activities. I fear this thinking is in the majority of the population.
Etiquette starts at home, taught by parents, then it is reinforced at school. Government and local councils ensure cleanliness etc. Well, this is what happens in many other countries, but it fails to happen here. Does it need a figurehead to start touring the country and expounding, 'Don't spit' etc! Maybe Sonia Gandhi or Advani on his Yatra (although I think the current one is cancelling due to security reasons). Would people take some notice??