Harsh Goenka Proposes Civic Sense Guidelines for Indians to Achieve Global Superpower Status
India's Civic Sense in the Spotlight Again
Industrialist Harsh Goenka has sparked a heated discussion on civic sense and public behavior in India, citing a recent incident at a hotel in Switzerland that had issued specific guidelines for Indian guests. This comes at a time when several videos showcasing Indians performing garba at airports, restaurants, and other public places in India and abroad have gone viral on social media.
According to a post on X by Goenka, he was "appalled" after seeing a notice displayed for Indian visitors at Hotel Arc-en-ciel in Gstaad, Switzerland. The instructions asked Indian guests not to take food away from the breakfast buffet, to use only the cutlery provided, and to avoid making excessive noise in hallways and on balconies. The hotel also clarified that buffet food was meant only for breakfast and that packed lunch bags could be purchased separately.
Goenka referenced recent viral incidents, stating that today, videos of garba in restaurants, loud conversations in airports, and turning aircraft cabins into picnic spots keep doing the rounds. He also mentioned an incident in Davos, where an Indian businessman blasted Punjabi music in a club so the whole town could hear it, calling it "soft power" to everyone's annoyance.
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Drawing a comparison with Japan, Goenka further emphasized that Japan earned global admiration through their courtesy and civic sense. If India wants to be a true global superpower, the world should remember Indians for its excellence, consideration, and respect for others. He added that India's civic sense seriously needs to be upgraded.
The post quickly drew reactions online, with many social media users joining the conversation and sharing their own experiences related to public behavior and civic responsibility. Several users expressed their distress over reports of careless and callous behavior from Indians, stating that it erases their enormous progress and negates their spending ability. Others emphasized the importance of practicing civic sense, starting with basic etiquette and taking responsibility for one's behavior in public places.
| User Comments | Summary |
|---|---|
| "So distressing to hear more and more reports coming in about careless and callous behaviour from Indians. We are becoming the most despised tourists that erases our enormous progress and negates our spending ability." | Expressing concern over reports of careless behavior from Indians |
| "Just like charity begins at home, practicing civic sense should also start here. The condition of our public places speaks a lot. The current generation is a lost cause... Maybe we can teach our kids some basic etiquette so the next generation is better." | Emphasizing the importance of practicing civic sense and basic etiquette |
| "Let's take it as an opportunity to learn and overcome our behavioural aspects since the list might be the result of their experience on long term basis. We are responsible for our show-off behaviour in public places and that originates from home, I suppose." | Encouraging learning and self-reflection on public behavior |
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