I love travelling in trains. Travelling by bus is too restrictive in terms of comfort and travelling by air is too expensive for my shallow pocket. Travelling by train gives me an illusion for a length of time where I shall be in the company of people that are unknown to me and watch them with no embarrassment as they too does the same to me.
Almost 99% of the time I travel alone. My travelling around is a part of my job that sometimes necessitates me to go meet clients at far off places in advising them in their premise security matters. Though I plan to read a book on these travels I end up eventually, gazing out of the window, or sitting at the door savoring the landscape pass by. And I will never miss the opportunity to wave my hands to little children who weave their hands to the people who are in train, not really knowing who is acknowledging their enthusiasm. For some reason it gives me immeasurable pleasure to make those kids happy shout and squeal in glee when I crane myself out of train door to wave my hands at them.
And most of the times I happen to travel with people who are not alone. Families, friends and colleges who occupy themselves in their own complacent little world sharing food and simple stupidities. Some of them play games if they happen to travel in big groups.
Though my profession blessed me with extreme confidence in making conversation to a stranger and capable of leaving a lasting impression on them (good or bad), I prefer to watch people in silence. One thing I would never miss while travelling is to check the reservation chart that’s glued at the entry of compartment door. I will familiarize myself with the fellow travelers within my vicinity. Their names ages and travel destinations and the crooked side of my mind is even capable of picking someone who is eye-catching within the coach and try to get their details. I do all this for some sort of passive fun.
Sometimes I do go out of my shell to initiate conversation with strangers.
A week ago I travelled to Bangalore from Mumbai to attend a friend’s marriage. It was a 24 hour journey and started by 2130hrs and ended next day same time. I am pleasantly surprised to know that two of my fellow travelers are foreign travelers. Ralph a 19 year old guy and Katrina a 24 year old girl boarded the train before I finished my scanning of reservation chart. I trailed behind them to see if I could make conversation or rather to be of assistance if needed.
Over a period of time I have been observing lots of young people from European countries visit India from multiple entry points. They travel with rucksacks on their back and show confidence quintessential an inspiring. I have an honest admiration for them as even now an average Indian girl or boy does not have such courage to go backpacking in a different country. They carry a book that’s as thick as my country’s population that perhaps explains them things that they need to know without human intervention. I even happen to read a chapter out of that book that specifically warns a foreigner not to trust anyone who is trying to get closer to them in their adventurous journey.
It pained me a bit, but I have to bow my head to this stark naked truth. There are incidences of exploitation where these revered guests of our country were robbed, raped and even murdered. A truly shameful blotch that tarnish the image my country for which I apologize behalf of the people who respect a guest by the dictum of our scriptures and culture. But then good and bad is not limited by the geographic, religious, social or cultural boundaries.
Before I could open my mouth another competitor loud mouth bellowed at them. Asking a very common (Common for an average Indian) but a very embarrassing question if they were married. Ralph replied with a smile that they were friends. And I took a step back voluntarily listening to the charade of my unknown brother and Ralph skillfully ducking and ditching the questions that are not worth answering. The night went by just like that.
Next day when I was awake around 0930 both of these guys were awake and submerged in their own reading and watching the scenic landscape pass by with an occasional mute whispers amongst themselves. I finished the usual ritual of cleaning myself and having nothing much to do I contemplate again to initiate conversation.
I know that their destination I just three hours away and I could not let an opportunity lost. I stepped confidently before them and said Hello. They were gracious enough to respond my greeting with a smile and tried introducing themselves. I picked half a way and told them their ages and destination. First their eyes grown wide and smiles even wider. I just brushed off my projected intelligence of consulting the reservation chart with a stupid smile on my face.
I find Ralph very talkative and enthusiastic wherein Katrina was a little skeptic about my allowed intrusion. Perhaps I made a bad impression with my unruly long hair and reserved smile. Within a few minutes I came to know that they were from Scotland and England respectively. Fortunately my obsessive love for a Mel Gibson’s movie (The Brave Heart) came to my rescue and I started talking of Bag Pipers, William Wallace and Scotch whisky. Ralph opened up almost immediately and we were drawn in deep conversation while Katrina was listening to us with a kind smile on her face.
Those few minutes were wonderful we tried to understand culture perspectives about so many things that are diametrically opposite and commonly dominate everyone around globe… Politics, careers, attitudes and getting harmonized with world in general. There was also some discussion stepping back to past as we talked about British rule in India and grudges carried forward. Ralph was a little hesitant in knowing what does an average Indian thinks of British when he happen to confront one. I was very glad to inform him that the younger generation no more thinks of past and assign the guilt and sin to the British counterparts.
Whatever happened was a historical fact and perhaps need of the hour at that time. Colonialism not only united our countrymen towards freedom but also made them learn so many things that otherwise could not have been learnt by us on our own. It’s greedy and imperfect to expect any civilization to reach a level of perfect moral righteousness coupled with rapid advancement and humane tolerance. Ego as we see it a vice is actually a prime mover towards growth. I see a core of focused determination within that wild fire that burns selectively or perennially.
We also discussed about how majority section youth is still shackled to the ideology of elders, those who chose to be within the embryo of family and confined society. It was an educative experience to learn different perspective from people who has been travelling in parts of world though they are young enough to be taken seriously.
From my own side I suggested that they should speak a lot to people rather than being dependent on the tunnel vision a book provides. Visiting a new place is always an exhilarating experience, especially when one tries merging in to the local culture.
As they say… when in Rome… Be a Roman… Both of these good people alighted at a station called Hubli and bade me goodbye. It would remain one of the memorable incidence in my life.
Another thing I wish share…
Almost 99% of the time I travel alone. My travelling around is a part of my job that sometimes necessitates me to go meet clients at far off places in advising them in their premise security matters. Though I plan to read a book on these travels I end up eventually, gazing out of the window, or sitting at the door savoring the landscape pass by. And I will never miss the opportunity to wave my hands to little children who weave their hands to the people who are in train, not really knowing who is acknowledging their enthusiasm. For some reason it gives me immeasurable pleasure to make those kids happy shout and squeal in glee when I crane myself out of train door to wave my hands at them.
And most of the times I happen to travel with people who are not alone. Families, friends and colleges who occupy themselves in their own complacent little world sharing food and simple stupidities. Some of them play games if they happen to travel in big groups.
Though my profession blessed me with extreme confidence in making conversation to a stranger and capable of leaving a lasting impression on them (good or bad), I prefer to watch people in silence. One thing I would never miss while travelling is to check the reservation chart that’s glued at the entry of compartment door. I will familiarize myself with the fellow travelers within my vicinity. Their names ages and travel destinations and the crooked side of my mind is even capable of picking someone who is eye-catching within the coach and try to get their details. I do all this for some sort of passive fun.
Sometimes I do go out of my shell to initiate conversation with strangers.
A week ago I travelled to Bangalore from Mumbai to attend a friend’s marriage. It was a 24 hour journey and started by 2130hrs and ended next day same time. I am pleasantly surprised to know that two of my fellow travelers are foreign travelers. Ralph a 19 year old guy and Katrina a 24 year old girl boarded the train before I finished my scanning of reservation chart. I trailed behind them to see if I could make conversation or rather to be of assistance if needed.
Over a period of time I have been observing lots of young people from European countries visit India from multiple entry points. They travel with rucksacks on their back and show confidence quintessential an inspiring. I have an honest admiration for them as even now an average Indian girl or boy does not have such courage to go backpacking in a different country. They carry a book that’s as thick as my country’s population that perhaps explains them things that they need to know without human intervention. I even happen to read a chapter out of that book that specifically warns a foreigner not to trust anyone who is trying to get closer to them in their adventurous journey.
It pained me a bit, but I have to bow my head to this stark naked truth. There are incidences of exploitation where these revered guests of our country were robbed, raped and even murdered. A truly shameful blotch that tarnish the image my country for which I apologize behalf of the people who respect a guest by the dictum of our scriptures and culture. But then good and bad is not limited by the geographic, religious, social or cultural boundaries.
Before I could open my mouth another competitor loud mouth bellowed at them. Asking a very common (Common for an average Indian) but a very embarrassing question if they were married. Ralph replied with a smile that they were friends. And I took a step back voluntarily listening to the charade of my unknown brother and Ralph skillfully ducking and ditching the questions that are not worth answering. The night went by just like that.
Next day when I was awake around 0930 both of these guys were awake and submerged in their own reading and watching the scenic landscape pass by with an occasional mute whispers amongst themselves. I finished the usual ritual of cleaning myself and having nothing much to do I contemplate again to initiate conversation.
I know that their destination I just three hours away and I could not let an opportunity lost. I stepped confidently before them and said Hello. They were gracious enough to respond my greeting with a smile and tried introducing themselves. I picked half a way and told them their ages and destination. First their eyes grown wide and smiles even wider. I just brushed off my projected intelligence of consulting the reservation chart with a stupid smile on my face.
I find Ralph very talkative and enthusiastic wherein Katrina was a little skeptic about my allowed intrusion. Perhaps I made a bad impression with my unruly long hair and reserved smile. Within a few minutes I came to know that they were from Scotland and England respectively. Fortunately my obsessive love for a Mel Gibson’s movie (The Brave Heart) came to my rescue and I started talking of Bag Pipers, William Wallace and Scotch whisky. Ralph opened up almost immediately and we were drawn in deep conversation while Katrina was listening to us with a kind smile on her face.
Those few minutes were wonderful we tried to understand culture perspectives about so many things that are diametrically opposite and commonly dominate everyone around globe… Politics, careers, attitudes and getting harmonized with world in general. There was also some discussion stepping back to past as we talked about British rule in India and grudges carried forward. Ralph was a little hesitant in knowing what does an average Indian thinks of British when he happen to confront one. I was very glad to inform him that the younger generation no more thinks of past and assign the guilt and sin to the British counterparts.
Whatever happened was a historical fact and perhaps need of the hour at that time. Colonialism not only united our countrymen towards freedom but also made them learn so many things that otherwise could not have been learnt by us on our own. It’s greedy and imperfect to expect any civilization to reach a level of perfect moral righteousness coupled with rapid advancement and humane tolerance. Ego as we see it a vice is actually a prime mover towards growth. I see a core of focused determination within that wild fire that burns selectively or perennially.
We also discussed about how majority section youth is still shackled to the ideology of elders, those who chose to be within the embryo of family and confined society. It was an educative experience to learn different perspective from people who has been travelling in parts of world though they are young enough to be taken seriously.
From my own side I suggested that they should speak a lot to people rather than being dependent on the tunnel vision a book provides. Visiting a new place is always an exhilarating experience, especially when one tries merging in to the local culture.
As they say… when in Rome… Be a Roman… Both of these good people alighted at a station called Hubli and bade me goodbye. It would remain one of the memorable incidence in my life.
Another thing I wish share…
How nice it would have been… if we happen see life as a travel in a train. Me meet people and make friends with them and probably get emotionally closer to them and… then either we or they… get off the train. But we seem not to carry any residual strain of losing them. We just smile and go about our own life. This is the kind of detachment philosophies try to explain us when it comes to personal relations.
I wish I could understand my own observation implicitly… But I cannot…
I wish I could understand my own observation implicitly… But I cannot…
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