This is one among thousands of incidents that will go unreported but the story must be told. And people like the villain in this piece must be called out. While I will protect the identity of the person at the receiving end of the abuse, everything else is true, factual and a first-person account. An episode that has shamed me as an Indian and has also made me immensely proud as one. Remember the story about a passenger urinating upon a fellow female passenger on an international flight that hit the headlines a few months ago? This one is no less offensive, except that the stink raised was not that of urine but one of complete lack of decency and concern for compatriots among certain sections of apparently affluent people.
I was on a flight to Mumbai enroute to Vadodara, to attend a conference themed on India’s leadership of the Global South based on principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. After witnessing this incident, the entire business of attending the conference appeared to be such an ironical farce because the grassroots are rotten and whatever ‘airy-fairy’ ideas are propounded during such talk shops can never be realised unless the rot in our moral and cultural grassroots is addressed.
Seated on an aisle seat of the aircraft, I was observing, as I often do, the manner in which flight attendants deftly handle the refreshment services and other requests of the passengers and yet maintain a calm and pleasant demeanour. It is a great education in human behaviour as one gets to witness several small incidents that say so much about us individually and collectively as a people. The superbly efficient flight attendants were doing their job and passing refreshments around. Having woken up early to catch my flight, I was dozing off when I heard the beginnings of an altercation between the lead flight attendant, who hailed from the North Eastern part of India and a burly, spectacled, tika-sporting passenger, Shri Pawan Kumar Patodia, sitting on the opposite aisle seat, one row behind.
It appeared that the passenger was not too comfortable conversing in English and the flight attendant was not very adept at Hindi. In the exchange that followed, the flight attendant admitted that she was a little weak in speaking and understanding Hindi, to which Shri Patodia replied, “Of course, you will be weak in Hindi because you come from China.” I could not believe that I was hearing such nonsense from a seemingly educated, well to do, roughly 50-year-old Indian. I was reminded of similar barbs that were reported a few years ago in Delhi towards youth who came from our North Eastern states for higher education or work. As an Indian, I felt deeply ashamed. Doubly so because none of the passengers who were witness to the incident even reacted as I was squirming in my seat. Such deplorable apathy!
Just as I was going to tell the indignant passenger off, the flight attendant politely but firmly told him, “Sir, I am deeply offended by your comments and I intend reporting the matter. I am as much an Indian as you are.” I don’t think the passenger expected such a riposte; as perhaps, he was used to passive acceptance, in general, of his offensive, rude and blatantly uncouth behaviour. After a brief exchange, I heard the passenger mumble some kind of apology but the damage was done. I felt proud to witness the calmness and maturity with which the flight attendant ticked the passenger off and defused the situation but such people must not get away lightly.
Later, I complimented the flight attendant for her handling of the situation. I also told her that in addition to whatever action she was contemplating, I would like to report the matter as well. I have since filed a formal complaint, which the airline has acknowledged and promised to investigate. I hope that the airline acts swiftly and Shri Patodia gets labelled as an ‘undesirable’ passenger, is banned on the airline for an appropriate duration and asked to tender an unconditional apology to the cabin crew for restoration of flying privileges. While this incident is just a drop in an ocean of insults that our service providers endure, the lessons must not be lost.
Respect for diversity, consideration for fellow citizens, decency in behaviour, public empathy for the right stand, individual and public disapproval of such incidents and appropriate deterrent action by authorities against public disharmony creators such as Shri Patodia must be ensured by every nationalist Indian and organisation. Money or importance does not necessarily make a good citizen. Education, culture, discipline and values do.
Thanks for taking up the issue personally and highlighting in your musings here. It deserves severe condemnation and action against the perpetuator.
I think it starts with slurs and racial remarks like ‘chinky’ that go unnoticed in school days and our gradual acceptance to them. We need to guard against this.
For all good citizens, You have shown the way to follow Sir! These type of people need to be called out so that they think ten times before showing indecent behaviour in public. Perhaps, with this experience, their behaviour at home also may improve to the delight of other family members.
Nicely elaborated as usual Sir!
Keep writing!!!
Not too sure if Education will bring changes. Have stayed and observed in areas where we have highly educated and high ranking officials staying, they also behave indifferently. In my opinion it is your upbringing that matters the most
Absolutely deplorable comment by the passenger…..and yes some airlines have done a yeoman service in getting youngsters from our North eastern states on their rolls…
I fully agree with second paragraph of the article…. change has to be from deep within…
Such insensitive and deplorable characters are common to every society and need to be disciplined and weeded out with action by fellow passengers. Right action Sir.👍
I agree with you completely, sir. Unity in diversity that was once our nation’s hallmark and strength is being turned on its head.
There is this deceptive narrative of some kind of resurgent pseudo-nationalism that’s being fanned by some vested interests. We would do well to remember that what begins as a spark could well end up being an uncontrollable forest fire, especially with the gullible masses. There is no gainsaying that religious intolerance has seen a surge in a deliberately shaped environment.
We need to relearn our idea about India. The one so beautifully encapsulated in our National Anthem, in Saare Jahan se Achha, in Mile Sur Humaara tumhara, in Mere Watan ke Logo, and other such timeless compositions.
From the Konkani speaking carefree & susegaad Goan jiving to the western beat, to the beef and brandy loving Malayalee from God’s own country, from the fish and travel loving, vivacious Bengali, to the diverse tribes with such vibrance in the NER, to the affable, fun-loving Rajasthani doing the ghoomar in their multicoloured attire, everyone is an Indian in equal measure. No one more, and no one less.
Yet another example of humans losing the innate traits of respect and humility towards other humans.
Sir, hats off to you for taking up this issue with the airline for such offensive comments by an uncouth passenger. It’s really sad to see that sometimes even seemingly educated lot get down to such low levels. I agree with you it’s more to do with culture, discipline & values. In my opinion these need to be ingrained at a young age in our education system so that the next gen turns out to be lot better.
Agree with the statement that money or power has no relation to good behaviour or for that matter a civic sense. A prime example is seen on many of the traffic signals wherein a luxury car is waiting and the rear door opens and the occupant spits out a mouthful of “pan” on the road. Some are so uncouth that they spit whilst driving only.
Wish that the traffic cameras catch these and the civic authorities impose a hefty fine.
You have indeed set a personal example of what a responsible citizen of this country should do. Also many thanks for bringing this sordid episode in the open for greater publicity. My admiration for you rises a few more notches in the already high esteem they are presently. I hope the Airlines take appropriate penal action that such deplorable behaviour demands, notwithstanding the cursory apologies the offender may have rendered. It is indeed a sad commentary on life that a brand of such supremacists are currently on the ascendance and widely visible in public life lately. They seem to have unilaterally assumed the role of conscience keepers and attempting to set social standards for others. They need to be condemned equivocally in the strongest of terms whenever they seem to outrage modesty or violate dignity of fellow citizens.
How I wish the tribe of conscientious citizens like you grow in numbers to save the society at large.
Kudos to the Flight attendant!
It is indeed a sad state of affairs and complete lack of civility. I must compliment the stewardess for maintaining her composure and calm. While we may be literate, we are still far away from being educated. Add to that we take our fundamental rights and democracy for granted. We can do anything, anyhow, say what we want to with scant respect or regards to other sentiments, sab chalta hai attitude truly hurts us as a society. I hope this Popatlal (pun intended) gets docked for his behaviour, based on the registered complaint and soon realises his mistake.