Why the World Is Right About India’s Civic Sense Problem?

 

Why the World Is Right About India’s Civic Sense Problem?

                                                                              Libin Antony A 

Civic Sense in India: A Missing Virtue We Urgently Need to Rediscover

Let’s be honest the world isn’t wrong when it complains about India’s lack of civic sense. From littered streets to reckless driving, from queue-jumping to noise pollution, civic indiscipline has unfortunately become a visible part of everyday life here. Despite being one of the world’s oldest civilizations with a deep moral heritage, we often fail at something as basic as respecting shared public spaces.

The Everyday Chaos

Step out into any Indian city, and you’ll find overflowing garbage bins, honking in no-honking zones, people spitting on walls, and vehicles parked wherever there’s space   legal or not. We’ve normalized indiscipline to such an extent that those who follow rules seem like the odd ones. Even educated citizens   doctors, engineers, and officials think nothing of breaking traffic signals or tossing plastic cups out of car windows. It’s not a lack of awareness; it’s a lack of empathy and accountability.

The Root Cause: “Someone Else Will Fix It”

Our biggest problem lies in a mindset  the belief that civic responsibility is someone else’s job. We treat roads, public parks, and shared resources as if they belong to “the government,” not to us. This attitude trickles down from generations of neglect and systemic inefficiency. When enforcement is weak and social pressure to behave responsibly is missing, indifference grows.

The Irony of Global Perception

India is admired globally for its talent, innovation, and resilience. Yet, the same visitors who respect Indian professionals abroad often criticize our public behavior at home. They see the contrast   how Indians maintain discipline in Singapore, Dubai, or Europe, but lose it the moment they land at home. That contradiction says a lot: our problem isn’t culture, it’s convenience.

Civic Sense Is Not About Rules It’s About Respect

Civic sense isn’t merely about following laws; it’s about empathy for others. It’s about understanding that our actions affect those around us  that the street we litter is the same one a child walks on barefoot, that the horn we blare adds to someone’s stress, that jumping a queue wastes others’ time. True civic sense grows not through punishment but through awareness, example, and pride in collective responsibility.

The Way Forward

1. Education from the ground up: Civic habits must be taught in schools as seriously as math or science.
2. Stricter enforcement: Rules without accountability are meaningless.
3. Community-driven change: Local groups, RWAs, and youth clubs can lead by example.
4. Public recognition: Celebrate those who follow the rules, not just punish those who break them.
5. Personal reflection: Ask yourself every day  “Would I behave the same way if this were my own property?”

A Nation of Great Minds Deserves Great Habits

India’s future depends not just on technological or economic growth but on how we live together. Civic sense is the foundation of civilized living   a quiet, invisible strength that defines truly advanced societies. Let’s stop waiting for someone else to fix things. Let’s start with ourselves   by caring a little more, acting a little better, and remembering that being Indian should also mean being responsible.

Maybe the world will stop complaining when we start behaving like the nation we aspire to be.