Believe it… this is how people travel in Mumbai trains.
It’s a near death experience to those who dare and a deterrent to those weak hearted who happen to come to this city. But believe this as well… it’s a way of life to all those who think on what they are undergoing.
It might look ridiculous if I recommend people to seek this experience. I have been traveling in this monster traps for almost 10 years. I have had profound observations not just what I watch around but what is happening within me as well.
One could develop immeasurable patience and impressive survival skills and not to forget… physical fitness. And its worth mentioning the collision of thoughts and decision making process while your board and alight train that could only be comparable to the mind set of a Formula 1 racer. I heard they make about 20 decisions within a second as they scream towards glory that’s filled with death at every succeeding meter. If racing is an active adventure, I would call traveling in Mumbai trains is a finest balance between active and passive adventure. You develop a fine intuition when to launch your body in to a taught projectile that’s encased in titanium shell and you will unwind your own self as you sway to the rhythm of lulling train as it zooms ahead.
In my yester years I was petrified looking at people barging in to trains as they come and be equally petrified looking at the swelling crowds as they form by the time the next train comes. One of my friends taught this skill in ludicrously simple manner. He just asked me to go stand before the door and the tide of people will push you in and vice versa.
Believe me… it worked. Not in the presumed methodic precision. I later understood the need to recalibrate my physical, mental and emotional senses too… to attain harmony in chaos. Physical to counter the pushes and shoves, mental to cope with stress developing and most importantly… emotional… not to fight with hidden hotspots.
And meditation is a very good relaxed unless you do not carry loads of money in your pocket. Cause there always shall be a grouping hand that could not be sensed at all and whisk away all your money in a flick of switch. I had had bad experiences in this arena too. Its not just disgust or hatred I suffered towards those specialists who parasite on their prays but some times I admire their ability in not troubling you at all while they are at their work. The ultimate thing that worked is to wear a skin tight trouser that permits not my own hand to dig deep in my pocket.
The most irritating thing that perhaps I could never reconcile is the groups of people. They encroach and invade the space that’s meant for everyone and extort the freedom of an individual. To color and justify their stand they seek shelter in religion based rituals that are pathetic in its own sense. They sing in such a way even god would wish to be reclusive in the universe he created on his own. Earlier there used to be mobile gambling groups who used convert any space in to a mini casino in the name of killing time. Thanks to the official who cracked their whip and controlled this menace. But I feel nothing could be done about these social terrorists who rob not only the space but also the peace of an average commuter.
Then some times there is this entry of women in to men’s compartment. It’s an impossible situation where one has to respect their entry but could not do anything to implement the same. I scream mutely why do they do this when they have their own reserved compartments that are breathable and could offer space to cater to the meager density of women folk??? I mean no disrespect to them but even after witnessing a near stampede they dare enter males’ compartment and challenge the impotent patience of men around.
But there are angels too. I see some people offer their seats to their fellow travelers after a while. They just stand and let a standee sit. So nice of them and may god bless them. And I saw a person even boards a train with loads of water bottles and pass them around for the commuters to get hydrate themselves.
The most civilized crowd ironically is found in luggage rake. It’s a small crummy space that’s used by illiterate labor and small time vendors. Looking at their faces and the possibility of not getting any seat, you may dare not enter this section of train. But if you are in hurry or with a huge baggage that burdens you further in entering trains… take my advice. Just get in to luggage rake. Everyone helps everyone… every one makes space for everyone and everyone manages to create a path for everyone to board and alight.
And I take this opportunity to convey my heart felt gratitude towards Indian Railways. It is indisputably an excellent job they are carrying out. They ferry millions with no flinch on their brow and serve the society by making people either reach their work place or back to their homes. I have fallen in love with trains so much that I avoid any other transportation if it’s possible for me to do so. They try their best to run in time and try even harder in case things do not go as they plan. When I enter a railway station I feel so confident about my ability to travel. And in comparison to any other mode of transportation they offer their service for dirt cheap fares. I can not help but smile and admire the spirit of these good men and women who makes the city move day and night.
Believe me… You must come and experience Mumbai trains.
It’s a near death experience to those who dare and a deterrent to those weak hearted who happen to come to this city. But believe this as well… it’s a way of life to all those who think on what they are undergoing.
It might look ridiculous if I recommend people to seek this experience. I have been traveling in this monster traps for almost 10 years. I have had profound observations not just what I watch around but what is happening within me as well.
One could develop immeasurable patience and impressive survival skills and not to forget… physical fitness. And its worth mentioning the collision of thoughts and decision making process while your board and alight train that could only be comparable to the mind set of a Formula 1 racer. I heard they make about 20 decisions within a second as they scream towards glory that’s filled with death at every succeeding meter. If racing is an active adventure, I would call traveling in Mumbai trains is a finest balance between active and passive adventure. You develop a fine intuition when to launch your body in to a taught projectile that’s encased in titanium shell and you will unwind your own self as you sway to the rhythm of lulling train as it zooms ahead.
In my yester years I was petrified looking at people barging in to trains as they come and be equally petrified looking at the swelling crowds as they form by the time the next train comes. One of my friends taught this skill in ludicrously simple manner. He just asked me to go stand before the door and the tide of people will push you in and vice versa.
Believe me… it worked. Not in the presumed methodic precision. I later understood the need to recalibrate my physical, mental and emotional senses too… to attain harmony in chaos. Physical to counter the pushes and shoves, mental to cope with stress developing and most importantly… emotional… not to fight with hidden hotspots.
And meditation is a very good relaxed unless you do not carry loads of money in your pocket. Cause there always shall be a grouping hand that could not be sensed at all and whisk away all your money in a flick of switch. I had had bad experiences in this arena too. Its not just disgust or hatred I suffered towards those specialists who parasite on their prays but some times I admire their ability in not troubling you at all while they are at their work. The ultimate thing that worked is to wear a skin tight trouser that permits not my own hand to dig deep in my pocket.
The most irritating thing that perhaps I could never reconcile is the groups of people. They encroach and invade the space that’s meant for everyone and extort the freedom of an individual. To color and justify their stand they seek shelter in religion based rituals that are pathetic in its own sense. They sing in such a way even god would wish to be reclusive in the universe he created on his own. Earlier there used to be mobile gambling groups who used convert any space in to a mini casino in the name of killing time. Thanks to the official who cracked their whip and controlled this menace. But I feel nothing could be done about these social terrorists who rob not only the space but also the peace of an average commuter.
Then some times there is this entry of women in to men’s compartment. It’s an impossible situation where one has to respect their entry but could not do anything to implement the same. I scream mutely why do they do this when they have their own reserved compartments that are breathable and could offer space to cater to the meager density of women folk??? I mean no disrespect to them but even after witnessing a near stampede they dare enter males’ compartment and challenge the impotent patience of men around.
But there are angels too. I see some people offer their seats to their fellow travelers after a while. They just stand and let a standee sit. So nice of them and may god bless them. And I saw a person even boards a train with loads of water bottles and pass them around for the commuters to get hydrate themselves.
The most civilized crowd ironically is found in luggage rake. It’s a small crummy space that’s used by illiterate labor and small time vendors. Looking at their faces and the possibility of not getting any seat, you may dare not enter this section of train. But if you are in hurry or with a huge baggage that burdens you further in entering trains… take my advice. Just get in to luggage rake. Everyone helps everyone… every one makes space for everyone and everyone manages to create a path for everyone to board and alight.
And I take this opportunity to convey my heart felt gratitude towards Indian Railways. It is indisputably an excellent job they are carrying out. They ferry millions with no flinch on their brow and serve the society by making people either reach their work place or back to their homes. I have fallen in love with trains so much that I avoid any other transportation if it’s possible for me to do so. They try their best to run in time and try even harder in case things do not go as they plan. When I enter a railway station I feel so confident about my ability to travel. And in comparison to any other mode of transportation they offer their service for dirt cheap fares. I can not help but smile and admire the spirit of these good men and women who makes the city move day and night.
Believe me… You must come and experience Mumbai trains.
1 comment:
hey ! ur recent template is real good .
I haven't experienced the mumbai local trains but have been to the chennai trains,they were quite stuffed and I got stuck while getting out and my aunt pulled me out !
Bangalore is going to have our own Metro very soon :)
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