<p>A verbal exchange ensued with the irate ones calling it an intrusion. Some incidents linger in your memory. <br /><br /></p>.<p>They provide not just food for thought but fodder for the mind. Ruminate on them and they become paradigms of human behaviour. A case in point is one that happened when I travelled by train recently. It had me dividing people into three categories – those who care about what happens, those who do not care and those who are content to sit on the fence.<br /><br />The journey by what is known as a luxury train started smoothly enough. The passengers, an orderly lot, put their light luggage in place and occupied their allotted seats without much fuss. When the train started moving, only muted conversation and the rustle of newspapers broke the pervading quiet. All at once, a well-built young man marched up to a TV box installed above the aisle and switched it on. The agreeable quiet was rudely shattered by the shrill introduction of a masala movie. Every two or three minutes, this potboiler was interrupted by an even more raucous advertisement. It took only a few minutes for some of the occupants to launch a protest. The passenger nearest to the TV got up and switched it off. At once the burly attendant strode in and switched it on again. A verbal exchange ensued with the irate ones calling it an intrusion and the attendant claiming that his company had paid for the space and no objections could be entertained. <br /><br />Tempers rose with one passenger pulling the plug out. The attendant was equally determined. Above the din could be heard voices that sympathised with the man as he was only doing his job. The rest of the passengers sat watching, impervious to what was happening. Finally a complaint book was brought and those who felt aggrieved wrote scathing comments in it. For the rest of the journey, the passengers remained a captive audience, the victims merely asking themselves whether they did not have a right to some peace and quiet.<br /><br />Such situations invariably lead to larger questions. What is it that allows a minority to trample on others rights and what makes some of those at the receiving end to accept this meekly? It is happening all the time. The corrupt demand and get away with fat bribes; people throw rubbish wherever and whenever they like. They spit on the roads, deface public buildings and relieve themselves in the open. Loud music is played at dead of night with no regard to the very young, the sick and the elderly. The list could go on. There has been a welcome outcry against rape and indeed it is a serious issue. But there exist others too and we need to draw attention to them.<br />I cannot forget what a friend witnessed and reported not long ago. Relating it may serve as a wake-up call. An Indian was walking in Hyde Park munching snacks from a paper bag. Contents over, he tossed it away carelessly. An Englishman behind him picked it up and handed it to him saying, ‘You dropped this.’ ‘I don’t want it,’ said the man. Came the reply, ‘Neither does Hyde Park!’</p>
<p>A verbal exchange ensued with the irate ones calling it an intrusion. Some incidents linger in your memory. <br /><br /></p>.<p>They provide not just food for thought but fodder for the mind. Ruminate on them and they become paradigms of human behaviour. A case in point is one that happened when I travelled by train recently. It had me dividing people into three categories – those who care about what happens, those who do not care and those who are content to sit on the fence.<br /><br />The journey by what is known as a luxury train started smoothly enough. The passengers, an orderly lot, put their light luggage in place and occupied their allotted seats without much fuss. When the train started moving, only muted conversation and the rustle of newspapers broke the pervading quiet. All at once, a well-built young man marched up to a TV box installed above the aisle and switched it on. The agreeable quiet was rudely shattered by the shrill introduction of a masala movie. Every two or three minutes, this potboiler was interrupted by an even more raucous advertisement. It took only a few minutes for some of the occupants to launch a protest. The passenger nearest to the TV got up and switched it off. At once the burly attendant strode in and switched it on again. A verbal exchange ensued with the irate ones calling it an intrusion and the attendant claiming that his company had paid for the space and no objections could be entertained. <br /><br />Tempers rose with one passenger pulling the plug out. The attendant was equally determined. Above the din could be heard voices that sympathised with the man as he was only doing his job. The rest of the passengers sat watching, impervious to what was happening. Finally a complaint book was brought and those who felt aggrieved wrote scathing comments in it. For the rest of the journey, the passengers remained a captive audience, the victims merely asking themselves whether they did not have a right to some peace and quiet.<br /><br />Such situations invariably lead to larger questions. What is it that allows a minority to trample on others rights and what makes some of those at the receiving end to accept this meekly? It is happening all the time. The corrupt demand and get away with fat bribes; people throw rubbish wherever and whenever they like. They spit on the roads, deface public buildings and relieve themselves in the open. Loud music is played at dead of night with no regard to the very young, the sick and the elderly. The list could go on. There has been a welcome outcry against rape and indeed it is a serious issue. But there exist others too and we need to draw attention to them.<br />I cannot forget what a friend witnessed and reported not long ago. Relating it may serve as a wake-up call. An Indian was walking in Hyde Park munching snacks from a paper bag. Contents over, he tossed it away carelessly. An Englishman behind him picked it up and handed it to him saying, ‘You dropped this.’ ‘I don’t want it,’ said the man. Came the reply, ‘Neither does Hyde Park!’</p>
