A recent editorial in Scroll has drawn a direct line between a viral video of Indian tourists eating on the floor of a Vietnam airport and a perceived deterioration in India’s civic culture. The publication argues that the incident, which sparked global debate, is symptomatic of a deeper issue where personal convenience is prioritized over public responsibility. The author, former Lieutenant General Bhopinder Singh, contends that this decline cannot be attributed solely to individual citizens but must also be examined through the lens of political leadership.
The editorial notes that while some social media users defended the behavior as a cultural norm involving home-cooked food, the core problem is the inability to distinguish private comfort from public duty. The author states, "The issue, after all, is not about culturally specific behaviour patterns." Instead, the piece suggests that the chasm between India’s civilisational self-image and contemporary public culture is widened by leaders who encourage personality cults rather than democratic accountability.
Contrasting the current political climate with the founding generation of independent India, the article highlights the intellectual seriousness brought by figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and BR Ambedkar. The text recalls Ambedkar’s 1949 address to the Constituent Assembly, where he observed that constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but must be cultivated. The editorial argues that the current political environment, characterized by polarized rhetoric and frequent parliamentary disruptions, has lost sight of this foundational restraint.
The piece further points to data from the India Hate Lab, which recorded 1,165 hate-speech events targeting religious minorities in 2024, a significant rise from 668 in 2023. This deterioration in public discourse is presented as evidence of a broader entitlement that afflicts the nation. The author asserts, "Therein lies the problem," identifying the defense of uncivic behavior as a critical failure of societal introspection.
Scroll concludes that India’s greatness should not be defended by invoking ancient scriptures or the planned streets of Mohenjo-daro. Instead, the publication urges leaders to inspire citizens through personal example. The editorial posits that a civilization’s worth is reflected in the dignity with which people treat one another and the consideration extended to strangers, rather than in historical claims. The author calls for a reclaiming of the values that allowed profound disagreements to coexist without weakening national goals, suggesting that the current trajectory risks making India less deserving of its perceived civilisational pride.