India, Sept. 19 -- The conversation around civic sense has been gaining momentum for quite a while, and while the phrase is used as an umbrella term for many issues that need to be addressed in society, one in particular has long stuck out: how many Indians react on seeing foreign tourists.

For a culture that proudly claims ownership of phrases like "athithi devo bhava," or "the guest is equivalent to God," we sure do a lot to make them feel as awkward as possible. Scenes of a throng of people jostling around a fair-skinned lady on a busy street asking for selfies have circulated for years on social media. But it would be wrong to say that such behaviour is limited to a socio-economic stratum.

Taking to Instagram on September 19, a phot...