If anyone in India is the most famous or infamous, he must be Shankar Mishra. His action, urinating on a co-passenger during a New York- Delhi Air India flight, is most reprehensible and regressive.
Shankar Mishra is not the first one to deliberately urinate on the flight. The famous French actor Gérard Depardieu urinated in the cabin in front of his fellow passengers after the crew told him he had to wait to use the toilet. However, Mishra was miles ahead as he urinated on a 70-year-old lady, his co-passenger, deluging her dress, bag and shoes.
The entire country flew into a rage and protested, like I, too, did spontaneously as the news broke out many days after the incident. Soon, in the absence of any other juicy news on the TV channels, grabbed the story to make it 24×7 breaking news, putting pressure on the carrier and the DGCA, the government authority overseeing civil aviation matters.
Ironically and criminally, the airline, Air India, initially tried to pass on the buck, claiming that the matter was settled or dried; therefore, no further action was needed. However, the lean-season news channels would have nothing of it. Soon, Shankar Mishra’s name was akin to Ajmal Kasab (who pumped bullets on 26/11), the belligerent flier pumping else, which did not kill the lady but pierced her mind and soul, leaving her traumatized, scared and shamed.
The offender’s employers, the famously infamous (2008) Wells Fargo, promptly sacked him, thus redeeming their image to an extent. The hunt went on, and in a country, which demands a host of documents like Aadhar, or Passport, a driving license or a voter’s ID for taking any flight, Mishra could not have translocated to Bengaluru in hiding. The heat singeing the police, they had no option but to nab and arrest Mishra, which they did today.
Shankar Mishra, with his loose bladder and love for alcohol, must pay the price for his misdeed, not only for what he did but also for what must not happen on any flight, much less to any woman travelling alone. Horrendously, close to the heels of the Air India episode, another similar incident has been reported on an Air India flight from Paris.
There always seems to be a different set of rules for fliers, one for the upper classes, the first, business and the famously’ cattle class.’ The role of the cabin and the cockpit crew calls for severe condemnation and reprimand, including de-rostering and grounding. The elite mostly uses the upper classes – corporates, political big-wigs, or criminals and the stewardess tend to condone many nauseating misdemeanours. This attitude must end.
Indians have great hope for a resurgent Air India, now belonging to Tatas, which was plagued by irretrievable headwinds. The role of the CEO of Tata, covering up the disgusting episode, is most regrettable and so unlike the Tatas ethos and ideologies. The government must dispel the discomforting thoughts of women flying alone. Air India has one more burden; it carries the name of India on its tail. Much like Delhi was called the rape capital of India, the detractors may call Air India the pisspot unless it acts soon and decisively.
My heart goes to the lady who suffered, but I salute her for bringing an important case to light.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
