Carnatic singer Sivasri Skandaprasad has sparked a conversation about civic behaviour and consideration for others in public spaces after recounting what she described as a difficult train journey.
In a post on X, Sivasri said she spent around five hours travelling in a coach where a large group of passengers were engaged in loud conversations. She said the experience left her questioning how much consideration people show for fellow passengers in shared public spaces.
Sivasri, who is married to Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, said the incident was particularly difficult because she values silence as part of her creative process.
‘People Do Not Respect Public Spaces Enough’
Describing the journey, Sivasri said a group of around 40 middle-aged passengers were travelling together in a 56-seat coach and remained engaged in high-volume conversations.
“It is very sad to see how people do not respect public spaces enough,” she wrote on X.
She acknowledged that travelling with a large group can naturally bring excitement and conversation. However, she questioned why passengers who are not part of such groups are often expected to simply tolerate prolonged disruption.
“As artists, we have 100 thoughts running. And we thrive in silence,” Sivasri wrote.
She argued that the issue was not about people enjoying themselves but about maintaining consideration for others sharing the same public space.
Sivasri Says She Asked the TTE for Help
According to Sivasri, she approached the travelling ticket examiner (TTE) and asked whether she could move to another coach.
She said the TTE attempted to help but was unable to arrange another seat because the train was full. She therefore remained in the same coach, although she moved to a different seat.
Sivasri later described another incident involving a smaller group of around eight passengers who were reportedly speaking loudly, laughing and playing UNO.
She said the TTE asked them to stop, after which they immediately complied.
‘Myself, Along With Them, as Indians, Lost the Civic Sense Game’
Sivasri alleged that the situation took an unexpected turn when the TTE returned a short time later and interacted with the group.
According to her account, the TTE jokingly asked the passengers why they were creating a nuisance. The group reportedly invited him to join their UNO game, which led to laughter.
Sivasri used the incident to make a broader point about public behaviour.
“So the concern here is not about who won. Myself, along with them, as Indians, lost the civic sense game. When will we, as a nation, improve our public behaviour?” she asked.
Her comments focused on the balance between individual enjoyment and the responsibility to remain considerate toward others in shared environments.
Social Media Users Share Similar Train Experiences
Sivasri’s post prompted responses from users who said they had encountered similar situations during train journeys.
One user described experiencing large groups travelling with children who allegedly created significant noise and sometimes left food and plastic waste behind. The user called for greater civic education and stronger enforcement of public-behaviour rules.
Another commenter specifically criticised loud group activities on trains, saying that public transport can become uncomfortable when passengers treat shared coaches as private spaces.
The responses reflected a broader discussion around noise, cleanliness and personal space on public transport.
Railway Authorities Yet to Comment
As of the time of the report, South Western Railway (SWR) had not formally announced an inquiry into the incident, and railway officials had not commented on Sivasri’s account.
The details of the journey and the interaction with railway staff therefore remain based on Sivasri’s public account unless and until railway authorities provide further information.
The episode has nevertheless reignited a familiar debate about civic responsibility and the need to consider fellow passengers when using shared public spaces.
