The Great Indian Line

One thing is for sure, for all the bustling Auntyji’s who are forever in a rush, for the impatient men who think queue’s are for “others”, this pandemic has taught them the value of a line.

I am an Indian and proud to be one. At each instance that I have travelled domestically or international, there have been moments that have made me look at my fellow Indians in utter disgust. The homemade theplas and parathas would be eaten in a tour bus, strictly violating the ‘no food no drink’ rule, written in Bold. Smokers would smoke wherever they found their addiction kick in, regardless of being allowed. After all.. it’s the superiority ‘I can never be caught’ syndrome. Rules are broken, lines are flouted all because ‘no one knows me here!’

 Hello! Even where people Do know you, this is all they see.

 With social distancing and lessened work staff, a lot of us are facing long lapses in time by standing in queues. It could be at a bookstore or a restaurant pickup. An elevator or a grocery store. It is something that we may as well accept and hopefully graciously, as it is here to teach us all a lesson, one way or the other.

 Standing in line can prove to be quite beneficial actually. Firstly, standing burns a lot more calories. :) I’ve seen people catch up on reading or finishing their current level on candy crush. I’ve seen a few listen to music and jive unabashedly. I’ve even seen a young mom teach her kindergarten going son, the ABC. Infact, it is entertaining to step out there and watch our fellow Indians try and respect rules – for a change!

 It doesn’t matter if you have one thing or a trolley full of products. Basic courtesy demands that you stand in line and wait your turn. Up until now, we see instances of disregard, pretty much everywhere around us. On Tv, it is our Legislative assembly, which has speakers shout and interrupt each other. Then, there is Arnab, ofcourse! In life around us, we see people jostling, pushing to get ahead in airplane queues, running to get into the train as though the pre allotted seat will suddenly be taken over by someone else.

 It almost seems surreal to expect them to stand in queues. Sidharth Balachandran very rightly says, ‘In India, queueing is an art form as well as a test for survival of the fittest!’

We are standing in queues today not because of any desire or respect.. oh No!

Its only because we are forced to.

Sadly, a lot of people still don’t understand the circle of personal space and stand so close, that you are tempted to walk around with a 6ft hula hoop! If you are a woman, you also have to steer clear of those lecherous eyes. If you move as much as an inch, you can be sure that the one behind, will shove his way in as though you were never there.

 We have a lot to learn, starting with the most basic lesson – respect. It does begin at home and gets further strengthened at school. Standing in a queue does not diminish your importance. It defines you as a responsible aware citizen.

 In all this chaos.. we have a silent invisible unwanted guest that sits back quietly and watches us. It will only leave when it wants to, meanwhile it is upto us to take it as an opportunity to work on ourselves – mindfully, socially and soulfully.

 How about we begin with queueing up??

 Pooja