A scene at the Railway Platform

A railway station in any metro-city of India provides a perfect glimpse of its diverse culture – from Sikh family going to Punjab, to a south Indian couple coming back to work in the city, to students proceeding to their home town in Assam on a vacation to devotees leaving for a pilgrimage in Gujarat. It presents a picture of mini India.

Last summer vacation, my entire family had decided to go to our native place- Bhuj by the Kutch Express. The scheduled departure time was three p.m. in the afternoon. We had reached the station an hour early. On hearing the announcements, I understood that the train was delayed by an hour. I trudged along to the enquiry office to find out the exact status of the train. The clerk at the counter seemed uncooperative. He informed that there was a derailment at Surat about 250 km from Mumbai which had delayed the train. Subsequently, I sat on a bench and began to look around to while away the time.

The railway platform was full of hurly-burly with all sorts of passengers. Everybody seemed to be in a hurry. It was a lively and interesting sight. TTEs were also moving with charts and files. There was a long queue in front of the booking window. Two ladies wearing bright coloured dresses were chatting at the book store. Some people used the over-bridge to go to the other side of the platform while some simply crossed over the tracks. There were still others sleeping on the floors with the huge luggage under their head. I could also locate alert police personnel. A rough man was smoking while reading a newspaper. Some of them were listening to music or daydreaming unaffected by the chaos. A railway platform always showcases mixed feelings- while some people had come to see off their relatives going to their native place and hence were feeling low, others were eagerly waiting with joy in anticipation of welcoming their relatives back home.

The hawkers were crying the names of their wares at the top of their voices to draw the attention of the passengers. Immediately children swarmed around them like bees. The vendors were having a busy time. There was a rush at the tea-stall. Feeling tired and exhausted, I took a cup of hot masala tea & felt blissful at its first sip. While sipping it, I saw a train screech to a halt. The platform buzzed with its vibrations. There was a great rush at the door of compartments.

Travellers showcased their talent of effortlessly being able to squeeze in by elbowing and pushing. Many passengers got down and many more got in. Porters in their red uniforms and white caps were seen carrying heavy bundles of luggage on their heads. Children clung to their parents in the great hustle. Soon everything was settled. It was time for the train to depart. The guard blew the whistle and waved the green flag. The engine whistled and the train began to move. There was waving of hands and hand kerchiefs. The platform humming with life looked like a deserted place in the blink of an eye.

A little later, I was relieved to hear the announcement of the arrival of my train. As the train rolled in, I occupied a comfortable window seat. I concluded that an Indian railway station is a true amalgamation of India’s rich heritage and one of the best parting gift by British to independent India.