Lately, the Delhi Metro has been increasingly witnessing public fights, unusual happenings and viral contents. Despite attempts by authorities to maintain a semblance of order, the metro remains a hotbed of conflicts, unruly actions and social media shows. One such incident that has recently sparked quite a controversy involved a lady who sat on a man’s lap after being unable to find any seat.
The Incident
In an unaccompanied video, a black-dressed woman is featured in an acrimonious exchange with other commuters due to the lack of empty spaces in a jam-packed metro coach. She insists that this boy make place when her tantrum went unanswered. When he refuses, she brazenly sits on his lap, declaring, “Humein kya, hum bhi besharam ban jayenge” (I will also become shameless). This unexpected move forces another passenger sitting next to them to stand up to make more space. She then continues, “Humein fark nahi padta, aapko fark padega woh bhi abhi nahi raat ko” (It does not matter to me, it will matter to you, and that too not just now but at night), adding another layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.
#delhimetro
— Yug (@mittal68218) April 21, 2024
दिल्ली मेट्रो में महिला को सीट न मिली तो आदमी के गोद में बैठ गई। वीडियो हुआ वायरल pic.twitter.com/pTb7dMHAbQ
The woman’s defiance and claim that she is always good at following rules; why would she break them now? – stoked the fire even more. Her acts and words as captured in this recording spread like wildfire on various social media platforms attracting different opinions from the public.
Public Reaction
This video angered many people on social media who expressed their disappointment immediately after watching it.
Numerous people criticized the woman’s conduct as improper and indecent; they argued that such behaviour negatively impacts public morality and destroys the feeling of mutual respect between metro users. Moreover, concerns were expressed about metro commuters in general, which indicated a growing culture of disrespect and anarchy.
Some users compared this incident to others in which similar events occurred in the metro, noting a disturbing pattern of disorder. Reels showing passengers fighting over seats or content creators filming disruptive clips, amongst other miscellaneous bad manners are now way too familiar. According to many commenters, this incident is indicative of a broader problem with falling standards of public propriety and increased levels of tolerance for disruptive behaviour.
More than just a video gone viral with a woman seated on a man’s lap in Delhi Metro; it is seen as an expression of bigger cultural issues. Thus, the event just demonstrated why we need to maintain orderliness in public spaces and why urban transportation facilities face challenges in ensuring commuter respectfulness. The Delhi Metro faces such disturbances which make it clear that having a culture of mutual respect and understanding is essential for the smooth operation of public transport.