A shocking video revealing the inside of a dustbin for sale, stained with red gutka spit, inside a store in Kanpur has ignited a firestorm on social media. The clip, which went viral last Tuesday, has reopened a long-standing debate about civic responsibility and public cleanliness in the industrial city.
The Viral Incident That Shocked Netizens
The now-controversial reel was posted on Instagram by the handle Devoted Indian. It captures a man visiting a DIY store and showing interest in buying a dustbin on display. To his disgust, upon opening the lid, he finds the interior heavily stained with gutka residue. The video text overlay declared in Hindi, "Yeh Kanpur wale kabhi nahi sudhrenge" (These Kanpur people will never improve), while the caption read, "Bolo juban kesri. Kanpur will never change."
In the clip, the man laments the state of affairs, pointing out that the problematic habit of spitting in public has now moved from outdoor bins to those kept inside shops. The video was posted last Tuesday and quickly amassed views and comments, with many users expressing shame and anger.
Social Media Backlash and Creator's Defense
The public reaction was swift and severe. One user commented that it was a matter of shame for all of Kanpur, while another criticized what they called the confusion between confidence and overconfidence among residents. A third user summed up the sentiment with a blunt "Zero civic sense" remark.
Facing some backlash for allegedly defaming the city, the video creator posted a follow-up reel. He defended his post as merely showing ground reality. He clarified that some people had asked him to delete the original video. In his defense, he highlighted that Kanpur is home to many tobacco factories and that gutka spitting is common in public spaces, even around areas like the Chakeri airport. "If celebrities promote 'zuban kesari' there is no problem, but when I show the ground reality, people object," he stated.
A Persistent Civic Issue and Global Echoes
This incident has once again put a spotlight on Kanpur's long-standing association with widespread gutka consumption, a habit frequently cited as a major public cleanliness challenge. The spitting of gutka in public is a well-acknowledged concern for both residents and local authorities.
The viral clip also revived memories of a similar video from some time ago that showed gutka stains on a street in London. That video had drawn direct comparisons to Kanpur, sparking conversations about cultural practices and public hygiene that extend beyond India's borders. The latest incident proves that the issue remains deeply entrenched and continues to damage the city's image.
The debate triggered by this single video underscores a larger, unresolved struggle for better civic sense and public hygiene in urban India, with Kanpur finding itself repeatedly at the center of this particular controversy.
