Sitting on the floor in Delhi metro is a common sight on days when there is unusual rush. But witnessing the same when there’s ample seating space available is quite uncommon.
The photograph shared by a Twitter user has gone viral on social media, sparking a debate on class system and inequalities prevalent in our society.
Seen in Delhi metro: Mother and child take seats while the child’s nanny sits on the floor on a fairly empty train. Caste/class discrimination really is space-agnostic. pic.twitter.com/cawsIU2zWs
— Sanya Dhingra (@DhingraSanya) January 20, 2018
This picture shows a mother and and her child sitting on the seat in Delhi metro, while the lady sitting on the floor is assumed to be the child’s caretaker.
Tweeple have come out with their own set of interpretations.
Is it the inherent class system in our society that might have forced the lady to sit on the floor?
Equally disgusting is several high rises having separate lifts for maids and such like!!! And in high rises mind you. Where supposedly the educated India lives.
— Latha Venkatesh (@latha_venkatesh) January 21, 2018
It could be her choice too.
What if she likes it that way? Don’t read too much in to it. Let her exercise freedom of choice
— Mukund (@mukkanna2000) January 20, 2018
It cud be her choice……nd ur tweet is meh
— Shilpa Shinde For The Win…Sky (@hs2482000) January 22, 2018
@DhingraSanya instead of posting this foolish ..you would have ask her to sit on empty chair.
— Ravi Thakur (@Being_Ravi_RV) January 22, 2018
And why did not u offered her a seat besides u as i can see empty one..?? pic.twitter.com/ASbtdyQzPH
— The Old Monk (@man_frm_krypton) January 20, 2018
While some still doubt if she was the child’s nanny.
It’s an absolutely wrong interpretation by the person. What you see is not what is true. All this to ignite hatred among each other. pic.twitter.com/SVVr8KKzKC
— Sharad Kumar Singh (@singhsharadkgma) January 22, 2018
That lady in floor looks anyone but nanny of the child, she may be some other passenger who preferred to sit there
— ScyTwi (@ScyTwi) January 23, 2018
Nanny or not, the picture has already initiated a meaningful debate. In India, reserving separate cutlery and utensils for our domestic help is a common sight. We go out on restaurants with the people who help taking care of us, but usually have them sit somewhere else and not next to us.
This classism, is deeply inherent and sadly we treat them badly. Time we learnt to respect labour and treated people better.