Back during my school days, we had a couple of English teachers who were stern disciplinarians, very particular about their students learning good etiquette. They ensured that their students carried a handkerchief, or at the very least, covered their mouth while coughing or sneezing. We were reprimanded if we wiped our runny noses on our uniform sleeves. ‘Train them young’ was their mantra, and why not- young minds absorb lessons the best. Till date, my hand or elbow instinctively covers my mouth whenever I cough or sneeze.
I have over the years observed how much Indians lack basic civic sense. I spent pretty much the whole of December being sick with a nasty bout of whooping cough and cold. I caught it from a family member who never bothers to cover his mouth while coughing or sneezing. I see so many negligent educated folks coughing and sneezing with their mouths open. They believe that sharing is caring, and they extend their kindness to those around them by generously spreading disease causing microbes wherever they go. If I had to name one pet peeve of mine, this would be it. I remember watching a security guard outside Shopprix mall promptly cover his mouth when he sneezed. अब बताईए कि पढ़े लिखे और अनपढ़ में फर्क कैसे किया जाए? There is a difference between getting an education and acting like an educated person.
It is because of these people that corona virus spread like wildfire three years ago, infecting lakhs of people and leaving thousands dead in its wake. Life threatening diseases like tuberculosis can also spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. People really need to brush up on their manners and start being considerate towards those around them. बांटना ही है तो मिठाई बांटिये, कीटाणु नहीं।
