Sign in

Gurgaon man calls out Shatabdi passenger for sitting cross legged, ‘entering’ his space: ‘Idiotic civic sense’

A Gurgaon man sparked debate online after posting about a co passenger’s seating manners in Shatabdi.

Updated on: May 17, 2026, 12:08:18 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

A Gurgaon man’s post about a co passenger allegedly taking up his space while travelling in a Shatabdi train has sparked a discussion on civic sense and public transport etiquette in India.

A Gurgaon man called out a co passenger in Shatabdi for invading his personal space during the journey. (X/@gurjota)
A Gurgaon man called out a co passenger in Shatabdi for invading his personal space during the journey. (X/@gurjota)

(Also read: Gurgaon man reveals how his net worth grew to 5 crore: ‘Salaried, middle class person like me…’)

Taking to X, Gurjot Ahluwalia shared a picture from his train journey and claimed that the person sitting next to him was seated cross legged in a way that entered his personal space.

(Also read: Gurgaon man argues 8-10 crore ensures a good life, says billionaires aren’t much different)

“Traveling in Shatabdi, and the intelligent person next to me is sitting cross legged clearly entering my space for past 30 mins. How do you solve this idiotic civic sense of educated illiterates in India?” Ahluwalia wrote in his post.

The post quickly drew attention on the platform, with many users reacting to the situation and sharing their own experiences of uncomfortable journeys in trains, flights and buses.

‘If his dirty shoes touch me once’

In another post, Ahluwalia added that he was trying to stay calm, but the situation was testing his patience.

“I was wrong or this guy saw my post. But if his dirty shoes touch me once, then I'm losing my patience!” he wrote.

However, the matter did not escalate further. In a follow up post, Ahluwalia said the passenger did not repeat the same sitting position after the tea and food service began.

“Thankfully the person didn't repeat that sitting position after the tea/food service started. All good guys,” he wrote.

Take a look here at the post:

Internet reacts to train etiquette debate

The post divided users online. While several people agreed with Ahluwalia and said public spaces require basic consideration, others felt that such issues should be handled through a polite conversation rather than a social media post.

One user wrote, “This is exactly why civic sense needs to be taught from school. Public transport is shared space, not your living room.” Another said, “Just ask him politely to sit properly. Most people do not even realise they are troubling others.”

A third user commented, “Educated people behaving like this is the bigger problem. Degrees do not guarantee manners.” Another reaction read, “This happens in trains, flights and even theatres. People forget that others have paid for their seat too.”

(Also read: 4BHK in Gurgaon or river-view penthouse in New York? What $3 million gets you in India vs US)

Another user added, “Indian public transport needs more awareness about personal space. Everyone deserves a comfortable journey.”

HT.com has reached out to the user for his comments, and the copy will be updated once his response is received.

(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)

  • Mahipal Singh Chouhan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Mahipal Singh Chouhan

    Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. He primarily covers offbeat, trending and human-interest stories, with a focus on emerging social media trends, online conversations and real-world incidents that capture public attention. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal works on identifying and developing fast-moving digital stories, adding context and journalistic perspective to viral moments while maintaining accuracy, clarity and readability for online audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. Beyond journalism, he has a keen interest in history and sports and enjoys expanding his general knowledge.Read More

Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.