A video of a man crushing tobacco, known as gutkha in India, on a Thailand-bound flight has caught the Internet’s attention, sparking a debate over a lack of civic sense among Indians. The viral clip, seemingly recorded by a fellow passenger, shows a man in a black T-shirt rubbing tobacco on his palm and having a conversation with the passenger next to his seat. Sharing the video, Instagram handle @ourvadodra wrote, “Video of Indian Passenger Making Gutkha Mid-Flight to Thailand Goes Viral. Adds to ongoing Debate on Civic Sense and Etiquette in the Skies.” Watch the viral video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by OUR VADODARA™ (@ourvadodara) Indianexpress.com couldn't independently verify he credibility of the video. The video, however, gained traction, triggering a fresh debate on civic sense and public decency. Several users argued that tobacco shouldn't pose any question as alcohol is allowed on international flights. "First, people advocating for civic sense should understand what includes in it and what now. Ese to drinking alcohol in public should also lack civic sense. I am not a gutka chewer but that doesn't mean that I became biased to every activity they do. If he's not making unnecessary voices, not spitting, not disturbing others, minding his own business then you should mind your too," a user wrote. "What civic sense? We are a third world country and that's the fact.. people who tarnish the image of our country like this.. don't even know there's something called 'civic sense'. How do you expect any civic sense in India.. our parents generation didn't teach civic sense at house.. all they taught was pee on the road.. litter as you wish," another user commented. "Once i flew 4 hours with a man chweing tobaaco for straight 4 hours without even spitting it once , thats Indian civic sense for you," a third user reacted. "Talk about civic sense if he spits it there," a fourth user said. According to a 2023 report, a passenger on an IndiGo Airline flight asked an air hostess to open the flight’s window mid-air to spit his gutkha. It appeared that the man was pulling off a prank during the flight by asking to open the window.
