Hello! No smoking and no spitting in public places

By Mudasir Ali

Smoking and spitting in public places are the two immoral acts among us that reflect our moral degradation. It goes against our moral standards. The underlying moral principles of our society don’t permit us to do any kind of offence that may prove us animals not social animals as quoted by Aristotle. It is a place where all sectors private as well as public perform different activities in order to cater services to common people. We come across different service agents like as; Food stores, Transports, Hospitals, Medical shops, Revenue departments and institutions as well. These are important for a normal functioning of life.

The community norms are applied to each class of society whether it is elite or labor class. Every individual of a society has a right to live with dignity and respect. He should take care of community standards and do not try to breach them. Morals are imbibed principles through which one can be recognized a morally good member of society.

It is morals which shape our character and develop the overall personality of a man. One is not identified by his wealth and money but he is to be identified by the moral principles he has attained. Social norms do never show a positive inclination towards elite class rather it has own parameters to measure the worth of individuals irrespective of class distinctions.

Decency elevates us so high but we ignore by following nasty things in public places. We should have a proper sense not to commit such absurd acts which will have a negative impact on us. We should follow the community standards rather than we go on spitting and smoking in public places. I have seen many persons who even do not care about it. They even light up cigarettes in medical shops that goes against their norms.

Likewise, in public transport we face the same problem. Passengers in buses light up cigarettes and leave the butts on seats. It is an offence if we try to do this like this. How these passengers can think about it? Shall it make them more respected citizens or disrespected? There can be number of such examples which do happen in public places but we always cover them.

Public places are always flooded with people as these places provide us daily services in various forms. How disgusting it is! If someone litters on roads without caring for others what they will think about him. There are nowadays metalled lanes that connect us to our homes but unfortunately they are laden up with spits. It is not to good spit like this where there is rush of pedestrians. They may feel it very bad because all of having different attitude. Some may control and some may slap you on spot. Someone’s spit can prove fatal to a healthy person if he will not cover his mouth while spitting in public places. It is an agent like for causing various infections.

Let’s look at our Municipality areas where we see the sweepers in wee hours to clean public roads and places with full dedication and enthusiasm but when they see such blotted scars on roads. Obviously they feel it very bad to clean up? Why do we lose our moral values in such a way that we are being treated as animals outside the home? If we strictly follow public norms and principles we will never be degraded by others. We need to rethink and look at our community standards and should always try to follow them.

Both smoking and spiting in public places has been made a punishable offence in Indian states and such repeated offenders can possibly face imprisonment which was announced by Health Minister Rajesh Tope seven months back. The Brihan Mumbai Muncipal Corporation has imposed a fine of Rs. 1000 if anyone is caught red handed in spitting public places.

These persistent offences are not acceptable in accordance with the Municipal laws. We consider such mistakes as simple as we committed daily. No one can demoralize you unless and until you have good values and manners to live morally and peacefully well. Avoid such offences which are undesirable to our community standards and may have negative consequences. Lastly, I conclude it with this special line Public place par thookna aur cigarette peena manah hai.

Moral: Follow good and receive good is a common Fanda

(The Author is a columnist and working as teacher)