In a thought-provoking social commentary, Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO of Zerodha, has stirred a wave of introspection with a viral video from @Zero1ByZerodha that challenges Indians to confront a long-ignored drawback: civic sense.
In a publish on X (previously Twitter), Kamath wrote, “We frequently blame the federal government or different folks for a lot of societal points, however actual change begins with us. Folks watch, copy, and study from what they see, whether or not it is good or dangerous. Sadly, even the educated and elite not often set the suitable examples in relation to civic sense.”
The video, titled “Why Indians Have ZERO Civic Sense”, has garnered practically 1 million views in simply 8 days on YouTube. It explores how on a regular basis negligence — from reckless driving and littering to public theft and vandalism — collectively damages the nation’s well being, financial system, and world picture.
Utilizing a mixture of humour, on-ground experiments, and hard-hitting information, the video dives into the psychology behind civic apathy. It highlights disturbing developments just like the “tragedy of the commons” and “damaged window principle,” which clarify why folks litter extra in already-dirty locations or break guidelines when others accomplish that with out consequence.
A standout section reenacts a real-life incident throughout a Yoga Day occasion in Visakhapatnam the place attendees fought over free yoga mats — not realising the mats had been already out there to all, simply not distributed chaotically. Different examples embody ₹260 crore value of stolen objects from Indian Railways in 2022 and the avoidable deaths from highway accidents attributable to overspeeding.
The video additionally examines deeper societal conditioning, together with how class hierarchies traditionally outsourced cleanliness and the way an absence of non-public possession over public areas ends in a tradition of neglect.
Kamath’s name to motion is evident: cease pointing fingers, begin setting examples. From forming clear queues to reporting rubbish by way of civic apps, the video lays out sensible options and insists that enforcement and peer stress are important levers of change.
The response on-line has been overwhelming — from reward for Kamath’s daring messaging to customers sharing their very own tales of taking civic motion of their neighborhoods.
As Kamath places it, “The change begins with us — and the subsequent technology is watching.”
