It’s no secret that policy-making remains one of the most pampered acts of government.However, the fate of citizens remains the same -to be deceived again and again.First, roadblocks are set in the path of unemployed people and if they are lucky enough to find work, it’s nightmarish experience to cover the distance between home and office.
The compartments of local trains there are surely miniatures of Nazi’s torture cells.There is not even an elbow’s space in these trains. I have spent some days in financial powerhouse of India-the great Mumbai.I had to move from one city to another via these trains.I could have hired a cab or private vehicle to cover the distance but I preferred the local train.The experience was exciting but at the same time it was also an eye-opener.Oh ! It was also dangerous !!! It made me realize the pains suffered by the “cattle class”.It wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that governments across the globe have been held hostage to elitist agendas.The ordinary citizens have been left at the mercy of fate to get reduced to nothingness with each passing moment.
This also unfolds the role of intellectuals who talk about reforms but they just don’t bother to share the road with commoners.It’s a great insult for them to sit side by side ordinary citizens.One reason why I travel in second class compartment is that it brings me in touch with real India.It’s good to travel by passenger trains than mail trains.Only because it not only saves few bucks but also they allow you to know life better.In the mail trains you not only have to shell out more money but also denied an opportunity to know life.
You also don’t get a seat to sit properly.We all who travel to Allahabad- Mirzapur by Puroshattam Mail know that quite well.Above all,one specialty of passenger trains is that not even God knows when they are going to arrive at your destination.I know some trains with whom our cute “Kachua”(tortoise)of famous Hindi story will love to compete with !!I bet he will emerge winner in the end !! However,we all know even adversities of life are blessings in some form.The unnecessary halts of passenger trains provides you an opportunity a glimpse into the lives of aam aadmi.It let’s you know their frustrations,their pains.
The Western readers will love to know that passenger trains of India have their personal stoppages as well.When the trains arrive at these places,the passengers simply pull the chain and get off the train.In our language we say ” kisi ne lagta hai vacuum laga diya hai”(vacuum has been destroyed).Aboard Chunar -Allahabad(CA)passenger.When it arrives near Allahabad,I find all the passengers looking outside the windows to locate their chosen stops.Nearly all the passengers get off the train and my darling CA arrives at platform half empty.
Anyway,I must end this article on role of intellectuals.The problem with present-age intellectuals is that they fail to heed to the concerns of man on street in siginificant way .The plastic gestures of so-called intellectuals create a permanent rift between them and men trapped in upheavels of life triggered by the misgovernance of the State.
Above all, the elite taste of these intellectuals prevent them from sharing the road with ordinary citizens.One of the reasons what made Gandhi darling of masses was that he annihilated the differences which separated him from the average people.He always believed that third-class travel allows you to have a real picture of India.However,it’s hard for them to understand who remain at a safe distance from the cattle class.
