We always learn lessons from the
troubles faced by us in our lives. We can’t learn by watching somebody
undergoing stress or reading about them. It is no longer a wonder why Mahatma
Gandhi travelled all over India in general compartments of trains. Gandhiji’s
intention was to know about the real India before leading the freedom struggle
movement. I understand that he was definitely right in those days to commute in
general compartments to learn about the troubles faced by common man in India.
The common man has to undergo several hardships while commuting in general
compartment of the Indian Railways. I am now a witness to the fact that how
many lakhs of passengers are punished daily as they are common people.
I had to travel in a General Compartment
of the Indian railways. As per the railway timetable my journey from Delhi to
Mughal Sarai is only 12 hours. Since the waiting list position of my ticket was
above 400 hence there was no chance of getting a confirmed ticket. So I thought
I could undertake my journey in general compartment during day time. However,
my journey exceeded beyond 20 hours which is close to spending an entire day in
train. Now let me share my experiences while commuting in the train.
Whenever a person boards a general
compartment on a busy route, his first dilemma is to enter the coach as early
as possible. Later, he has to struggle to find a seat. If one is unable to get
a seat, then he has to either climb up and sit on the luggage carrier or get
ready to sit on the floor of the compartment. Co-passengers will also trouble
him while moving around the coach. Normally in one seat (i.e. a berth length in
sleeper coach) six to seven people sit. In other words, irrespective of
different body masses, it is compulsory to fit. Luggage carriers are normally
occupied by three to four people. Two persons share the single side-seats. Many
people would sit on the passage and the place in between the seats. Thus large
number of persons occupies a compartment which is actually meant to accommodate
eight persons. Adjust, adjust and adjust… is the philosophy.
Since these compartments are isolated
from sleeper coaches, they are deprived of food supply. Even when train halts
at a station, no food stalls are available near to the coaches as they are on
the rear end of the train. By the time sellers reach near these coaches, the
train is already set for departure. Thus only few commuters sitting near the
window are able to purchase food items. However, most of the passengers help
their co-passengers by ordering food through windows.
The toilets in these coaches are
unhygienic as they are seldom cleaned by coach attendants. There is lack of
water supply too. If male commuters themselves find it difficult to use these
toilets, then imagine the fate of female passengers. To add to the woes, one of
the toilets is occupied by few commuters due to space crunch in the coach. The
passengers can’t expect the fans in the compartments to function anyway. If the
windows are opened, then those commuters seated near it feel cold and if it is
shut, then the insiders feel suffocated. Thus once again, the only means to
survive is to ‘adjust’.
This is how the general compartments
function in our country. I had seen the pictures and videos of crowded trains.
I had also noticed people sitting on the roof of the coaches. However, these
incidents never made me realize the hardships faced by people while travelling
in this manner. After a long journey spanning 20 hours, I was eagerly waiting
for my station to arrive and alight from the coach as soon as possible. Once I
got down at the station, I felt like a bird which was freed from the cage. I
looked back at the coach. No one else got alighted, instead three commuters
boarded it. Most of the passengers had to travel another 10 to 12 hours for
reaching their destination. I sighed. Does Railways really bother to serve the poor
people who mostly travel in these general compartments?
