It seems general compartments of trains are meant only for thugs.
The other day a friend and I were travelling from Coimbatore to Salem. The general compartment was jam packed. People squatting in the aisle refused to make way for us to go in. Finally we managed to squeeze our way into the middle of the compartment.
Many people were seated on the luggage berth above the seats. I asked three men occupying one of the luggage berths to make space for me to sit. They refused, saying, "Where is the space to sit?" Their tone was arrogant. They had kept a small bag between them on the berth where another person could be accommodated. I argued but to no avail. They even bullied other people who asked them to make some space.
Meanwhile, my friend got into an argument with three people sitting in a seat meant for four. A couple just refused to move. They had a child whose legs were stretched out on to the seat--a move meant to dissuade other passengers from sitting in the space. A fight broke out at the compartment door when the train halted at a station and passengers were trying to get in. The squatters just refused to budge.
I took the number of the Railway Police from a constable on the platform. I called up Tiruppur Railway Police. A policeman, Subramaniam, picked up the phone. I told him there was chaos in the general compartment of the train. I even gave him the number of the compartment and told him to arrange for something to be done at the next station. But no one came at the next station.
I rang up again. Finally, a cop came in at the Salem railway station. His advise was: "The couple are travelling with a child. We should show some heart while travelling on the train." In fact, the couple had laid their child spreadeagled on the seat to fool the cop. Needless to say, the policeman did nothing about the thugs who had refused me space. After all everybody was sitting on the luggage berth. Why couldn't I sit there if there was space? I had a valid ticket...
Shouldn't something be done to put the railways on the right track in terms of customer care?

As far as I understand your complaint is not against the Indian railways its against the lack of civic sense of our fellow country men/women.

Honestly speaking I have traveled the world and even a lot of third world countries but the lack of civic sense displayed by general public in India and the inconsiderate behavior towards others in public places is just out of this world.. All in all its the whole country not just those people you came across in that train.. People do not obey rules jump traffic lights and take pride in doing stuff like that.

The problem is in our upbringing and governance. We do not vote politicians to govern the country but to make sure non governance prevails and no rules are followed.

Think about it... Imagine a government doing away with the PDS or taking away the subsidy from fuel and LPG.. would that party ever come back in power ever again?

We Indians do not even return a smile to passerby's.. Go for a morning walk and try smiling at others and let me know how many people return a smile Dont bother I know the answer.

i know it's vain to crib. it would be naive to think the railway authorities do not know that such things happen. and why doesn't the railway police take action when passengers are in trouble? somebody should be responsible for making train journey smoother and safer for passengers.

you can't lodge a complaint against the public for lack of civic sense. on the train, the railways is in charge. the railway police has the responsibility of ensuring the smooth and safe travel of passengers. if they don't respond to your call, what do you think we should do? scream against the public for their lack of manners?