Who should be blamed?

Who should be blamed?

Travelling is really fun, especially when it’s a long trip in train with all your family members and relatives. If you are a frequent traveler, you will definitely know the pain of booking your seats  four months before your date of travel. In my journey from Maharashtra to Kerala, several times I have personally experienced the reservation boogie being converted into a local compartment. It’s really sad to see people from Kasargod to Trivandrum, jumping into the train and almost sitting on your lap. We end up realizing that, in a seat of three more than 6 passengers sitting including kids, ladies and gents.

During my recent travel from Kerala to Maharashtra, unfortunately it was an urgent travel, we had to book tickets under the Tatkal quota. Almost spending double the rates in the usual quota.  But there was a relief that at least we have  seats dedicated and reserved for us.

There was an old lady sleeping in the seat in front of me. She was travelling with her husband. She was not able to continuously sit, because of which she some how managed to sleep in her seat and extending to her husband’s seat. Her husband was almost squeezed between man next to him and his wife at the other end. I could see how difficult it was for this lady to take a nap in that congested space. There was tiredness on her face, too.

The journey began, and when it reached Quilon, a girl (Unreserved passenger), entered my boogie. Immediately, the girl asked the old lady to get up and allow her to sit. I was totally surprised on what grounds she had the rights to wake up this old lady. The girl was obviously having no seat there as  the three reserved passengers of the seats were already seated there.  And there were people outside the train peeping from the window, who were the relatives of this girl, and shouting at the old lady and telling that you can’t sleep during day time.

Yes, I did agree that railway law does say that you cant sleep during day time, but isn't there a sense of humanity ? On humanity grounds, we do expect people to understand. 

I looked out of the window with multiple questions…Who should be blamed? Is it that the law which is made so flat by not even understanding the pain of long-distance travelers? Or is it that we should blame the education system which has given degree and jobs to people, but have forgotten to seed some sense  of humanity  and understanding in them? 

Questions unanswered is mostly unheard !

Nadar Shaila Sunder