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issue 2 january-february 2005
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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. In the previous issue, Anand Sharma told us of the harrowing time he had navigating a crowded railway platform and asking uncaring people for help to reach his compartment. Here is the second and concluding part of his brush with the Indian railways.

When I reached the station I asked people about where exactly that coach is attached; it could be either near the engine or the guard’s coach. I was told by a coolie that it is near the guard’s coach, so I went and stood where it would probably stop because there was still time for the train to arrive at the station. When it did come, I was told by someone – who had seen that particular coach go forward and who realised that I would not be able to reach the coach in time if I didn’t move quickly enough – that it stood almost 15 metres from the station.

I managed to cover the distance in 15 minutes, but was shocked to discover that the coach was still further down. My new friend helped me; somehow, trembling, I reached the coach and boarded the train. No sooner had I boarded the train when it started moving.

Once inside, I was surprised by the crowd; it was almost like a general compartment. There was no space at all to even move my legs. There were more ‘normal’ persons than disabled persons; I could not, however, call the police because the train had already left the station. So I thought I would do it at the next station. As soon as the train arrived at the station, I stood up and requested the ‘normal’ people to vacate the coach and I went towards the lavatory. I was shocked to see that there were almost 15 to 20 people standing inside the toilet room! Are Indians destined for such a miserable and dreary life?

The problems are many, but India has millions of brains working for solutions and should be able to make up for the lacunae in the system.

To conclude, I quote a few memorable lines from Paradise Lost: “Mind is its own place and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell; and a Hell of Heaven”.

When will we experience beautiful life? Only time will tell.

What needs to be done?

• There should be a ramp alongside every flight of stairs for disabled persons to use.
• There should be two or three gates for entering, or exiting from, the station.
• There should be demarcated paths on overbridges for the convenience of persons with disabilities and to avoid injuries from people running into each other.
• All the coaches and berths should have the numbers written in Braille.
• An audio system should be made available near every berth such that one could switch it off when turning in for the night. As far as I remember, such a system existed in the Vaishali Express before 1990, in every compartment. This enables not only blind persons but also illiterate persons to identify which station is approaching, a system similar to that used in metro trains.
• There should be sufficient arrangements for sitting. Regular patrolling should be done, especially during rush hours, to check that nobody blocks paths.

Do you have an ‘everyday’ experience you would like to recount? Write in to us at content@eyeway.org.

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