Local trains of Mumbai

After moving to Mumbai (India) commuting from one place to another was a

big problem (as we didn’t have our own vehicle). It seems Mumbai local

trains are the most efficient one carrying millions of people everyday.

Getting in and out of local trains is one of the hardest tasks

particularly during rush hours which every mumbains has to undergo at

least ones in their life. So, lot of advice was given from Santanu’s

maternal family who are staying here for more than 15 years. Being given

lot of advice the matter aroused curiosity within us.

So, on first day things seemed to be very easy unlike the situations

which were being narrated to us. Even getting seats were not a problem

neither getting down nor boarding was difficult. Thus our first trip by

Mumbai locals was quite easy and calm.

By the time we have already traveled twice or thrice for short distance

in non rush hours. Now one day we decided to go to Mumbai central and

particularly towards south to meet one friend. But, that day our

boarding station was quite crowded then ever experienced before. We

mustered enough courage to board a train together which was again an

experience in itself. While waiting for our train, at platform we saw

lots of women were waiting at one particular place which we soon

realized that this might be the spot where ladies compartment would be

coming.

Normally, all seats are taken by burly or experienced people who time

their jump onto moving train with perfection may be comparing them with

urban cheetah will not be out of place. By the time train leaves

platform its overcrowded with half of people hanging towards outside

either to get fresh air or are waiting for next station to arrive.

Hardly any place is there for a little fly to get in through the door.

In that crowd you can see people from different walks of life where some

are reading newspaper or some are listening to music so loud as if he is

playing for his co-passengers or some are snoozing or some are staring

while others maybe observing people like me. Even staring at women who

has dared to be there in general class is quite common as Mumbai locals

don’t believe in chivalry. Being only woman I looked around myself where

I found few people are standing like fortress around me, while others

staring at me and when I look at those staring eyes I found many people

pretending not to.

Santanu is very possessive in certain matters by keeping his arms around

me so that no one dares to say or touch trying to make a protecting

shell. Somehow after a while we got some place to sit for few stops in

the mean time we learnt that if we have to get down at requisite station

then we have to leave our seat atleast two stations prior in order to

prepare ourselves to get down.

While sitting one experience many other things like depending on your

height one get following views - someone’s armpit across your nose; well

oiled hair poking right inside your nose; a newspaper across your face;

people shouting over phone etc. That’s not last if you want you can look

outside even where you see many sitting beside railway track, brushing

teeth, answering natures call and what not. Anyhow with the crowd we

managed somehow to get off from the train without losing our handbag,

sandals or any other personal belongings.

In Mumbai, there are three main train lines, with few junctions where

people can change train. And there is no single station where all these

three lines connect each other. So getting in or out at any of these

junction station is really ultimate one…. rush squeezes to the limit

which something I have never experienced before - ***its intimacy at its

best and privacy at its worst***…. it’s co-passengers who will make you

get off the train where you don’t need to put any effort to walk out.

One good push…and you find yourself at station and thanks to god that we

found ourself in one single piece and moreover with all our belongings

intact and within seconds you realize that crowd which helped you in

getting off the train is already dispersed.

And we took a long deep breath…..maybe something new to us but its just

one more day for all other mumbaians. While walking past the platform I

thought what about those disabled handicapped people, children, aged

people, or pregnant ladies…..is there anything for them like in western

countries. In certain matters, India needs lot to do to improvise its

commuting system for every kind of its citizen.