an online magazine from eyeway.org
an online magazine from eyeway.org
issue 1 
september-october 2004
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Perspectives
A journey by train
In each issue of beyond the I, this column will present a first-hand account of a visually-impaired person’s experiences in the ‘real’ world. Here, Anand Sharma takes on the railways, and it’s not pleasant.
“I am a part of what I have met; my experience is like an arch where
through gleams the untravelled world.”
– Tennyson
I may not be Ulysses but I share his passion and enthusiasm for exploration and travelling. And this passion is responsible for many memories. Although I am sitting in a cool and quiet place at the moment, my mind is not so peaceful because it is recollecting a painful journey on the Indian railways.
Reaching the railway station
It was a day in the month of July when I started my journey from Mangolpuri (in Delhi) for Lucknow (in Uttar Pradesh). After a bath, I took my luggage and white cane and boarded a bus which would take me to the station. It was fully occupied; there was hardly any place to move forward or back -- even a pin would not have touched the floor if it was dropped! I started taking another bath by perspiration! Anyhow, I reached my destination. I then walked up to the platform, enquiring with at least 10 people about the right way, but only two people directed me properly. They accompanied me till the entrance gate but thereafter I had to go on alone. I did; I have never hesitated to go alone.
On the
platform
It was evening and the place was very crowded. To enquire about which number platform I should go to, I began hunting for the enquiry office but was unable to find it. Most of the 12 people I asked turned deaf ears to my words. Finally, a gentleman helped me locate the office. On my way towards the overbridge, I do not know how many persons I may have dashed against unintentionally, persons who were either sleeping or sitting on the platform. I remember one situation, when the bottom portion of my cane landed on the head or eye of a man who was sleeping in the way. The moment my cane touched him, he jumped up and started abusing me, without realising that it was not my mistake at all.
As I made my way across the overbridge, I was hit by an iron trunk probably being carried by a coolie on his head. Even though the trunk injured me, the coolie passed me without saying sorry. Bruised and battered, I reached the desired platform. Since it is not easy for me to locate my coach, I told two gentlemen my coach number and asked for the way; they directed me in the opposite direction! In spite of not knowing the correct way, they directed me as if they were very sure about it. I had to cover double the normal distance to reach my coach. It took me almost half an hour from the entrance gate till my reserved berth. Is this the honesty of Indian people? I leave the judgement up to the reader.
When I compare time spent on stations in India and in London, the scenario seems pathetic and hellish in India just because of the fact that millions of Indian minds work for other countries in designing and developing infrastructure, but not for their own motherland.
In the train compartment, I rested for a minute, and then stood up to tie my luggage with a chain. At that moment the train started moving; it gave a sudden jerk and I fell back on my seat, narrowly escaping another head injury. There was no horn or starting signal given by the train driver. Thus, finally, my journey by train commenced. Inside my compartment was the usual bunch of self-absorbed passengers; luckily I found two very cooperative gentlemen but for whom life might have been more harrowing.
Another traumatic experience
Another traumatic occurrence took place during my return journey from Lucknow. I had planned to come back by the Vaishali Express, in the coach especially provided by the Railways in some trains for disabled persons.
To be continued in the next issue
Do you have an ‘everyday’ experience you would like to recount? Write in to us at content@eyeway.org.