A FABRIC CALLED THE INDIAN RAILWAYS

I have had this on-and-off love affair with trains since I was a kid. Back then, the train journeys meant nothing but an unending ordeal of wiping off perspiration and periodically checking the watch for minutes left to reach the destination – but that was before discovering AC travel. The local EMUs were a nightmare. You rarely ever got a place to sit, and even if there was someone ready to accommodate you, they would have you a small area where you were expected to stuff in as much of your derriere as you could. Peanut shells carpeted the foot-space more often than not.

The tang that was once unpleasant, I now love. The EMU is perfect for capturing in the mind’s eye what the local social fabric really looks like. Express trains are my favorite - as we move from lower class compartments to the upper class ones, we are in fact browsing through varying economic strata. Try making yourself at equal ease with a Bhagalpuri bhenji travelling unreserved and a diplomat in 1st AC – social experiments that I’ve relished.

Indian railways are an epitome of unity in diversity. Cross-country train journeys are experiences worth savoring. The fields, rivers, hills, and color are gifts that our country has always had for us, and our railroad helps us realize their presence. I have had the chance to meet some remarkable people on my train journeys, read many a book and have soaked in scenic nectar in bounteous amounts. Travelling with family and friends on long train journeys has its own charm.

Employing around 16 lakh people all over India, our railways are one of the world’s largest utility employers and have witnessed considerable reforms and improvements over the years, even though there are many issues that still need looking into - infrastructure, rolling stock, signaling gear, railway tracks and bridges, ticketless traveling, overcrowding and hygiene being some of them.

Born in 1853, the Railways are of great historical significance. The National Rail Museum has rail buffs and trainspotters visiting daily. The IRFCA (Indian Railway Fan Club) is manna to rail enthusiasts and is doing a great job of connecting railfans countrywide. I have seen people cherishing the moments as trains pass by them, absorbing their beauty just as a man would for his beloved. The wonder and amazement that trains evoke in us is nothing short of magic.

the GuyNextDoor