State capital struggles to shed its 'spitting' image

Once known for its beautiful evenings, parks and walkways, the 'city of nawabs' is yet to see an aggressive campaign against public spitting

- Rajeev Mullick

LUCKNOW: Vidhan Sabha speaker Satish Mahana has brought the spotlight on a civic issue that is usually put on the back burner but impacts all citizens. On Tuesday, he chided an MLA, though he didn't name him, for spitting 'pan masala' or chewing tobacco on the carpet at the entrance of the main Assembly hall.

Gutkha or paan stains on footpaths and public walls have earned the state capital a bad name.

"When people spit out gutkha and stain a small portion of a wall or road, they also leave behind a permanent scar. In Lucknow, public spaces are treated like open trash cans. People who recklessly toss a wrapper or packet out of a moving rickshaw here would think a hundred times before doing something like that abroad," said Rohil Mehta, a concerned citizen and orthopedic surgeon.

Why does one spit? This simple question does not call for any thought-provoking answer. According to some medical practitioners, while spitting is a necessity for those who chew paan and gutkha, for others it may be an act to display. "Some do it to get rid of frustration and beat stress while others use it as a tool for expression of resentment, disgust, disrespect, disapproval and a wide variety of emotions," Dr Mehta said.