Indian Railways makes you see India in a way which you can never see otherwise.While travelling by trains you may encounter a wealthy businessman and even a poor peasant.You really start thinking about the value of life and what it means for you. The landscape, language, people change every few hours.There cannot be a better example for national integration.
Sometimes I feel there is actually more to Indian Railways than just trains.It's about people, adventure, experience and what not.
When I travel by train I make it a point to try to acquire a sleeper class berth. Nowadays sleeper class is a pain but it is the class through whose windows you can catch a glimpse of the real India.
The real India is the India full of wealth, poverty, accomplishments, defeats, technology, backwardness, beauty and filth. In other words the India which we do not see sitting in the air conditioned compartments. The India which cannot be absorbed by sitting and watching through opaque windows.
When the train speeds across the hinterland I feel at peace with myself. When I am stationary my mind wanders the world over but when the train is in motion and places fly across my eyes my mind finds itself at rest. I suddenly have the time to dream, retrospect, deliberate and meditate.
When the train sets the tracks ablaze I feel a sense of fulfilment.I feel as if I am heading towards my goals at a terrifying speed which is exhilarating. When we pull into a major junction I see all the vendors shouting their voices off,trying to persuade passengers to buy their products. At this moment and this moment alone I worry about the vendor.I feel for a moment that this is his source of livelihood. Everyday he must be going back home with his meagre earnings of the day which will feed his whole family.For a moment I think about what his dreams in life would be?What would he expect from life?A good job, car, house, a credit card, lot of money?What will he do living in this nondescript place?I am lost trying to decipher the mysteries of life when the train gives a loud toot and we are off leaving the vendor at the platform, leaving a new village and town that I may never step foot on again.
When I watch the sun setting from the door in the evening with the train speeding across this huge mass of blessed land which we call India, I feel a sense of intense gratification for this one beautiful moment in my life which may or may not come again.This feeling that I may not be here tomorrow.This feeling of uncertainty is both worrying and pleasing at the same time.This is the feeling which inspires me to forget my worries and sorrow's for this one moment.
While travelling in a train I realise that life is actually a journey similar to the one I am on. Nothing is certain. Every phase of life is like a station which we will have to depart from with a long hoot and finally end our journey at the terminus. Who knows from then on another journey may start which I do not know about.Many passengers may travel with us but we do not know where they will board our train and where they will get off.We still enjoy this small duration of togetherness with them.
We may meet other trains at stations and leave all the passengers to continue on our own way while they will pursue theirs.We see the train and it's passengers only for a few moments but that's all.
When I see the Sun rise from the door,I am thinking of the day ahead. What will happen what not?What challenges await me? The sight outside though assures me of the outcome.It will be good. This feeling of reassurance about dealing with the challenges in the day ahead is a soothing feeling. The early morning wind seems to ruffle my hair and assure me of success.This feeling makes me forget all my apprehensions for the day ahead and focus on nothing for a few moments.Nothing,just be blank for a few moments.Just feel myself, my life, my thoughts, my dreams.
-Aditya R Venkatesan
20th of March 2011
