15/05/2026
Dear Modiji,
I read the article where you appealed to citizens to:
- reduce unnecessary fuel consumption,
- use public transport,
- revive WFH,
- avoid wasteful travel, and
- live more responsibly in the national interest.
A sincere thought came to my mind.
How do we stop a 'culture' that celebrates excess???
Recently, I attended a Rotary felicitation function with around 1000+ participants.
> Nearly 600 cars were parked outside.
> Most had single occupants.
> Many had travelled nearly 200–250 kms.
That is one event...One evening...One parking lot.
Now multiply this across:
👉 Big fat Indian weddings
👉 Political events
👉 Corporate meetings
👉 Religious gatherings
👉 Social functions
Everywhere, cars have become status symbols...Not transport...Status!
We proudly speak about patriotism.
But patriotism is also:
👉 conserving fuel
👉 reducing imports
👉 thinking collectively
👉 travelling responsibly
Somewhere, we have normalised waste..
- A family of 3 arrives in 3 different cars.
- People drive 500 metres to buy groceries.
- Functions become automobile exhibitions.
- The highways are overflowing.
- The cities are choking.
- The fuel bill rises.
And yet, Indians remain unstoppable...
So Modiji, just 1 humble question 🙏
How do you change behaviour in a country where inconvenience is unacceptable, public transport is looked down upon, and excess is admired?
Because policy alone may not solve this.
This needs a cultural shift.
Perhaps the real challenge before India is not economic....it is behavioural.
And unless citizens participate consciously, no nation can become truly sustainable.
Photo credit The Times of India
