The issue of civic responsibility among Indians has been widely discussed, with the Indian Railways often cited as a prime example of this concern. Over time, various incidents aboard trains throughout the nation have brought attention to the behavior of passengers. Instances such as the theft of blankets and bed linens, littering of train floors, and more recently, a group of men filmed cutting train seats with blades, illustrate a troubling pattern of public conduct in shared environments.
In a recent social media post, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, highlighted one such incident by sharing a video that was initially posted by The Better India. The footage juxtaposes a train coach heading toward Manali, which is shown in a state of disarray, against the pristine conditions of trains in Mizoram. Rijiju’s post included the caption, “Learn from Mizoram, our North East!”
The video opens with images of a train compartment littered with discarded blankets, bed covers, and food wrappers strewn across the floor. A voice notes, “10th students were here who were going to Manali,” indicating the source of the mess.
In stark contrast, the footage transitions to trains in Mizoram, where passengers are observed responsibly disposing of their waste in designated polybags located near each berth. The cleanliness of the compartment is striking, with no visible litter. The narrator remarks, “Ek hi train, ek hi desh, par soch bilkul alag (The same train, the same country, but a completely different mindset).” The video further elaborates that this positive behavior is rooted in the concept of “Tlâwmngaihna.”
Tlâwmngaihna represents a moral philosophy embedded in Mizo culture, encompassing values and ethics that guide both individual actions and community involvement. According to the narrator, this principle encourages individuals to prioritize the needs of others over their own. The responsibility for maintaining cleanliness is perceived not as a personal obligation but as a collective endeavor shared by all. In sharing the video, Rijiju expressed agreement with its creator, stating, “I agree with whoever made this video.”
The video has gained significant traction online, prompting various reactions in the comments section. One user remarked, “Health and civic education need to be taught to children right from kindergarten in both government and private schools across India. Only then can we expect a change in the habits of future generations.”
Another commenter noted, “Cleanliness is a value that should naturally arise in every human being. Instead of enforcing it through laws or coercive measures, we should embrace it as a social movement and collective sentiment. Only then can it become truly sustainable.”
A third individual added, “Yeah, that’s true. I live in the North East and have spent time with people there. When you visit their monuments, they explain right from the beginning why it is important to keep them clean. We Northerners really have a lot to learn from our North-Eastern brothers and sisters.”
