Red Graffiti

Written by Huma Iqbal • April 2011

It comes in all forms and colors and its worth is heightened only when it graphitizes streets and walls in public places. It is a common syndrome in South Asia, almost a part of the national psyche that is difficult to obliterate. It is the practice of spitting in public.

Unfortunately, over time, public spitting has become so common that it has almost become unworthy of our attention.

It doesn’t really matter where one is - strolling in a public park, walking down a street, waiting in a lobby or climbing the stairs in an office building, all places serve as ready recipients of this graffiti. In this part of the world, we seem to take pride in altering the appearance of any surface such as a wall, signboard, etc., so long as it is not being guarded by watchful eyes.

But, why do we pursue this despicable practice in the first place? Can there be a reason to justify an act that several communities around the globe define as a serious violation of civil rights? Going back a little into our collective history and societal norms can perhaps help explain this phenomenon a little better. Chewing of Paan (Urdu for betel leaf) has been an important part of our social lives for many centuries. Known as beeda in Hindi, thambulum in Tamil, killi in Telugu, sireh in Malay and Bulath in Sinhalese, Paan originally had a symbolic value at ceremonies and cultural events in the subcontinent. Chewed as a palate cleanser and breath freshener, it was also offered to guests and visitors as a token of hospitality and at the commencement of social events. But not anymore. Mixed with tobacco and slaked lime, modern-day pan chewing is no more the consumption of sweetened fennel seeds and candied fruit. Instead it has become a means drug-taking for many people.

This use of chewing tobacco is reaching dangerously endemic levels in South Asia. In India alone, several surveys show that nearly70% of college students are regular tobacco chewers. Students, professionals, taxi drivers and the young and old - all take it. The habit has been further triggered by easy availability of different byproducts of pan-chewing, i.e. chaalia, gutka, pan masala, etc. Besides putting users at high risk of mouth cancer, spitting paan has become a nuisance across South Asia, not even sparing the most elite of urban neighborhoods.

One reason that can be attributed to this massive shower is the psychological dilemma of most people who believe that they can stay away from throat infections by constantly clearing their throat and spitting out the ‘extra saliva.’ It also needs to be understood our people spit for no reason! It is a clear reflex action for many and they do it because they have seen others doing it.

Spitting is, in fact, a global phenomenon and has mass appeal. However, spitting in public is discouraged in many countries, where the act is often discouraged through fines and legal action. In Singapore for instance, spitting is a chargeable offence and carries fines of up to $500. In 2009, the Republic of Macedonia classified spitting in public as a felony and enforced a law on public hygiene. In the first few months after the law was enacted, more than 3,000 people were fined for the spitting offense alone and nearly half of the offenders were asked to supplement their fines with public community service. Heavy fines were also imposed in the Hunan Province of China in an attempt to restore civility to the streets. In normal situations, the fines range between 20 yuan (U.S. $2.4) to 50 yuan (U.S. $6), whereas resisting the fine results in a surcharge of 200 yuan (U.S. $24).

In a more formal context, spitting in public is considered a breach of code of conduct. In the world of sports, for instance, Golf Champion Tiger Woods made news recently when he was fined a hefty sum for spitting during the Dubai Desert Classic, for what the authorities defined as a breach of tour conduct. The 35-year-old American was caught spitting several times by television cameras and had to face displeasure and disgust both of the golf fraternity as well as television audiences.

Similarly, in June last year, Wimbledon officials fined Victor Hanescu U.S. $15,000 for his ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ amid allegations that the Romanian spat at fans before quitting his third-round match against Daniel Brands. In another instance, South African fast bowler Dale Steyn was fined 100 percent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during a Test match against the West Indies. Steyn pleaded guilty to spitting in the direction of opposition player Sulieman Benn during the match.

South Asia is home to the world’s most amazing locations. Be it the snow-capped Himalayas, the lush green Hunza valley in Pakistan, the breathtaking valleys of Bhutan, the marble wonder of the Taj Mahal, crystal clear waters of the Maldives or the Nepalese treks, mother nature needs to be protected from the corrosive habit of spitting.

At a time when governments in South Asia are dealing with more complex problems like global warming, terrorism, internal security, declining economic output, etc., issues such as spitting and littering can be effectively dealt with by developing a good civic sense in children at a very tender age.

Governments in collaboration with NGOs, humanitarian agencies and the international communities can work towards promoting basic civic responsibilities amongst the masses, especially by introducing valid changes in the curriculum of primary level education to reinforce lessons of cleanliness, health and hygiene, environmental protection, abiding by traffic rules, developing basic civic sense like forming queues, using spittoons and garbage boxes to dump wastes, etc.

It is time that we started working more vigorously towards the goal of a cleaner and greener South Asia. It is only through educating our masses and putting legal bindings in place that we can prevent the spitting habit from developing further. Let it not become a classic example of ‘It came, it conquered, and it left its mark.’