Tehzeeb, literal Urdu translation refers to culture. I felt the word meant deeper though typically some words get confined within the sphere of textbook definitions.
And after some years away from my home country India, it occurred to me that we as Indians in India, seem to have lost our civic sense associated culture somewhere. We all want to be the first to cross a rather tough traffic situation, unmindful of the fact that there were other cars before us. At airports, malls we all find the rush towards entries and exits, perhaps never stopped to let in or pass the odd old couple or a family with kids? Do we realize the indiscipline in airport security lines. Or have we offered our bus seat to someone in need? Think about it. Parents today goad their kids to hold on to their seats.
I stopped by on a long drive at a fast food restaurant and for the line formed for ordering - I hardly found anyone waiting for the person ahead to finish. There was an acute sense of urgency, bordering towards desperation amongst the families to pay and pack off.
It brings me back to the topic of Tehzeeb. It is not discipline. It is not the fear of law. It refers to culture. Old and Ancient. And perhaps also means 'refined'. It is time to rekindle this spirit especially in public places. Our country had internalized this spirit. We did not need external enforcement. We did not need sign-boards or auto-voices. Check with the generation before, perhaps our grand-parents. Let's get 'Tehzeeb' back in our lives. And lets make our environment, our surrounding a better place.
